My Connection with Lady Gaga

I know… The title implies I have some connection with Lady GaGa, the ofttimes outrageous and popular singer. I don’t. I was just trying to make an obscure point.

You see, Lady GaGa has a song called “You and I.” You may have heard it, and you may even like it. I confess I like it. I’m not a Lady GaGa fan by no stretch of the imagination, but the girl has talent, and it’s a good song. It’s a pity about the grammar though…

I’m always amused at the number of times I see people writing “you and I.” When they speak they will usually say, “you and me,” but there’s a perception that “you and I” is the correct form, and should be used every time. It’s certainly the correct form sometimes, but not every time, for grammar has rules and sometimes the rules say the correct form is “you and me.”

The lady can teach you a thing or two about grammar. Photo courtesy of LadyGagaPics.org.

This takes us back to Lady GaGa. Her song, while entertaining and pleasing to listen to, is grammatically wrong. A line in the song says, “There’s something between, baby, you and I.” So, how do I know it’s bad grammar?

When to Use You and I

Without being technical and telling you about sentence subjects and objects and the rules that govern them, let me just say that there is a very easy and simple way to know which form should be used.

When you need to know whether to use “you and I,” or “you and me” in a sentence, simply drop the “you” part and see if it sounds right. Taking Lady GaGa’s song example, we end up with, “There’s something between, baby, I.” Hmmm…

Something’s not right there, but substituting “I” for “me” works: “There’s something between, baby, me.” The inclusion of “baby” in this sentence does tend to confuse the issue a bit so dropping that word, which won’t affect the meaning, might help you to see it a bit clearer.

Lady GaGa’s song should have been entitled, “You and Me.” Then the line would have read, “There’s something between, baby, you and me.” Would the song have suffered in some way by being grammatically correct? No, I can’t see how it would. To my ears, at least, it wouldn’t jar as much, but I suppose you could say it’s simply artistic or poetic licence. I don’t think so. I think it’s just bad grammar.

Ironically, Lady GaGa makes exactly the opposite mistake in her song, “Bad Romance.” She sings a line that goes, “You and me could write a bad romance.” Sorry Miss GaGa, but that’s an example of where it should have been “you and I.”

Yes, it really is!

Is Lady GaGa alone in displaying bad grammar in her songs? No, sadly she is not.

Other Rockers Who’ve Committed the “You and I” Sin

Bryan Adams in his song, “Run to You” has a line, “But that’d change if she ever found out about you and I.” It’s the same bad grammar – no one finds out about I, but they may find out about me.

Another example is Eric Carmen with “Hungry Eyes” where he sings a line that goes, “I feel the magic between you and I.”

Queen did it too with “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy.” When Freddie Mercury sang, “I’d like for you and I to go romancing.”

Sadly, there are more examples of the “you and I” bad grammar variety in song, but I won’t bore you with a full list. I’m sure you get the picture. Other examples of poorly thought out song lyrics certainly exist.

For example, Bob Dylan has been described as a poet, And arguable, that he is. He’s written some of the finest song lyrics to be found in modern music, but even he gets it wrong occasionally. His big hit, “Lay Lady Lay” should, grammatically speaking at least, have been entitled, “Lie, Lady Lie.”

Bob Dylan and the Difference Between Lay and Lie

I know, I know . . . it doesn’t quite have the same inspirational spark. But, that’s grammar for you. Using the word “lay” requires an object, as in, laying a plate on the table, for example. Assuming a horizontal bodily position on a surface, a bed for example, is where you should use the word “lie,” not “lay.”

It gets worse…

Justin Timberlake May Need Grammar Lessons

How about this: “When you cheated girl, my heart bleeded girl.” Do you see anything wrong with those words? I hope you do, and sorry, all you Justin Timberlake fans, but bad grammar is bad grammar, wherever it is found. The past tense of bleed is not bleeded. There may seem to be some logic there, but that’s the English language for you. The correct word to use should have been the past participle, “bled.”

Hank Williams: I Can’t Get Your Grammar “Off Of” My Mind

Hank Williams immortalized a fine example of entrenched American phraseology with one of his songs entitled, “I Can’t Get You Off Of My Mind.” I’ve been told with great authority that the “off of” dualism is simply an example of American English. Sorry. There’s no such thing. It’s bad English grammar, that’s all.

The song title, grammatically speaking, should have been, “I Can’t Get You Off My Mind.”

Michael Jackson, Elvis, The Beatles, John Lennon . . . Grammar Lessons Can Help You Too

The more I look at popular songs and the people who sing them, the more I realize there’s hardly anyone who hasn’t used bad grammar in a song. The list is almost endless, and includes such well-known luminaries as Elvis, The Beatles, Elton John, ABBA, AC/DC, The Beach Boys, Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Police, Diana Ross, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones, Andy Williams and Madonna – to name a few.

God Bless the U.S.A.: We Need Grammar Lessons?

OK, time to expose something patriotic. I know, I know… Patriotism, however mawkish, sentimental and emotional it may be, is allowed to just be itself. Maybe so, but as I have already mentioned, bad grammar is still bad grammar. Take Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” for example. There’s a line in that song that goes, “I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.”

What’s wrong with that, you may ask?

Being a proud American and knowing you are free, isn’t the problem. You just can’t say it like that if you want to retain good grammar.

The word, “where” refers to a place, and the word, “American” that precedes it, is not a place. That’s the simple explanation.

Using the word “where” means you should be able to refer back to an actual place. For example, saying, “I live in America, where at least I know I’m free” is fine, but stating you are an American, and following that statement with “where” is, I’m afraid, bad grammar.

When Bad Grammar Works

Some songs have been deliberately written to show bad grammar. One perfect example is the B side of a Louis Jordan single from 1944. The song is called, “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby.” The grammar is so bad that it’s actually good. The song has been covered by such well-known entertainers as Bing Crosby, Nat “King” Cole, Dinah Washington and B.B. King.

This goes to show you can get away with bad grammar in a song, but only if you make sure it is really bad and deliberately so. Otherwise, you and I will know the difference – and that, incidentally, is the correct use of “you and I.”

About the Author: John Coutts mainly writes for a living, and he also creates stunning photo video slideshow presentations that are usually grammar-free. Each slideshow uses customers’ own digital photos, and have professional background music and special visual effects added. A video slideshow is the perfect way to remember anniversaries, special occasions and events.

Every post that’s created is like a mini campaign. But even if you have the most informative content in your blog’s niche, if you can’t build a readership because it’s poorly written, it will be extremely difficult to become a successful blogger.

FYI, I’m kinda swamped this week and next week, so am seeking guest posters to appear here.

Want More Twitter Followers?

If so, you need to know Mr. Aguiar. I first became aware of John Paul via Twitter. Turns out, he’s the author of Twitter Dummy. I read his post, How I Got 253 Twitter ReTweets On 5 Posts, and immediately started implementing the #FF Tip on a regular basis (I had been doing it, but just not regularly). And you know what? I get more followers on this day than practically any other.

So I started doing the #WW (Writer Wednesday) thing regularly, and slowly my Twitter following has increased to over 3,300 — and I’m not THAT prolific of a tweeter.

I had an interesting phone chat with John Paul last week. He wanted to pick my brain about article marketing and press release marketing, and I wanted to pick his about how to get more Twitter followers. I’ll rack my brain and give you a few tips he passed along to me during our conversation in a post next week.

Stay tuned!

If you really want to know how to increase your following though, get his ebook, Twitter Dummy. It’s full of simple stuff that if you do consistently, it will yield amazing results.

Hope you enjoy the post, and feel free to add your copywriting tips for busy bloggers at the end of the post.

Want to Freelance Fulltime?

Don’t forget to subscribe to get my new ebook (it’s FREE!), Living the Freelance Life! Readers have really taken a liking to it. One aspiring writer wrote to me saying in part:

Just so you know, you’re my new “mentor-in-my-head”. You truly are an inspiration to me . . . Your site, articles, ebooks (I bought, read and took copious notes on “How to become a FT Self Publisher… and “How to write an Ebook in 3 Days…”). Truthfully I’ve spent the last few days reading just about EVERY SINGLE link you’ve suggested, and article that you’ve written, that applies to my new goal; to make enough of an income on my ebooks to fully support myself . . . Yuwanda, you’ve helped to give me direction.

Beyond the heaps of praise this freelancer bestowed on me, what I love is that she’s taking the information I dispense in  this ebook and is running with it. I love that!

So many people ask me for advice — but then they do nothing with it. It’s so gratifying when someone contacts me to let me know that what I’ve written has helped them see some kind of light;  given them a direction; helped them to change the course of their lives.

So if you haven’t read the ebook yet, all you have to do is subscribe and you’ll be sent a link where you can immediately download it.

Hope you’re having a swell week. I’m headlong into a client project which will take up the rest of the day.

Best,
Yuwanda

P.S.: Will you do me a favor? If you download and read the ebook, will you come back and give some feedback in the comments section below. Or, just email me [info*at*InkwellEditorial*dot*com]. Tell me what you liked about it, disliked about it, wish I would have discussed more of/less of, etc. In short, anything. I may even revise based on your feedback and will definitely carry the lessons forward into the next ebooks. Thanks a bunch!

A couple of weeks ago, when I was conducting the ebook writing workshop, I handed out info about SEO. The same thing happened in the article marketing workshop. When I was working on my outline, it hit me:

. . . you can’t do crap online these days without knowing some SEO.

 And, as a freelance writer, it’s important that you at least learn the basics because not only will your clients come to expect it, you could lose jobs to those writers who do know it.

The Importance of SEO for All Freelance Writers, Not Just SEO Copywriters

I. SEO Is Where Your Potential Clients Are Spending Their Money

Companies large and small are spending money online. Proof?

According to a December 2010 article, Forecast predicts internet marketing services revenue growth, on Clickthrough-Marketing.com

A new report from Zenith Optimedia has forecasted where advertising budgets will be spent in 2011 and beyond, with global online marketing services seeing growth of nearly 50 per cent in the next three years. . . . total spending is expected to be over $91 billion by 2013, an increase of 48 per cent. . . . The figure for 2011 is predicted to be $70.5 billion, with around half of that coming from paid search.

More proof?

BtoBOnline.com, an e-mag devoted to B2B marketing, conducted a survey that included marketers, ad agencies and marketing industry executives. They asked them what they thought were the top 10 trends in 2011.

The first thing they mentioned was that companies are shifting their budgets to online spending, specifically saying:

This year, 78.5% of b2b marketers plan to increase their online budgets, according to BtoB’s “2011 Outlook: Marketing Priorities and Plans” survey (see story, below). One-third of b2b marketers said more than half of their total budget will be spent online . . .

This part that caught my eye inthis piece specifically was the following. The article went on to note:

As more and more marketing channels roll out, including social media networks, landing pages, blogs and thought leadership events, marketers must continuously create and maintain content used for marketing purposes. . . . According to a study published by Junta42 in September, 51% of b2b marketers said they will increase their content marketing budgets this year, and content marketing will make up 26% of overall b2b marketing budgets.

The bottom line is, when companies start to put their money where their mouths are, that’s where the freelance writing jobs are gonna be. Are you prepared?

II. Learning SEO Helps You to Market Yourself Better Online

If you have a website, and you want clients to find you online, SEO it – particularly for local search.

As an aside, this is something I never did in my SEO career because I actively sought out clients. I no longer actively market for SEO writing work, but clients continue to find me online because I’ve written so much on SEO so my sites/my name pop up in searches related to SEO writing.

But if you’re just starting out, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of “SEOing” your site.

III. Learning SEO Helps You to Create Income Streams beyond Writing for Clients

I’ve written a lot about the importance of diversifying your income streams as a freelance writer. In the SEO copywriting training class offered by Inkwell Editorial, I explain four ways to make money with your newly gained knowledge. In the course description, I describe it this way:

First, the course teaches you how to make money writing SEO content for clients. Secondly, I reveal to you how to make money online promoting affiliate products. Third, I teach you how to make money writing SEO content for “write for pay” sites. And finally, I reveal to you how to make money from products you create (if you want).

Last year for the first time, the income I make from products I create outpaced what I make writing for clients. Knowing SEO has not only allowed me the knowledge I need to create products, but given me the tools I need to successfully promote them online as well.

Learn SEO: Keep Up or Lose Out

I remember when I worked at a publishing company in the late 80s in New York. Many of the lawyers still used long yellow legal pads to write on, in spite of the fact that all of them had computers. But, many never took the time to learn how to use them.

They trudged on with what they knew.

But eventually, the department head sent around a memo that commanded them to all start using their computers. In the same memo was a mention of training classes that those who needed them were “strongly encouraged” to take.

I feel like this is where we are now with SEO. You’re either going to have to learn it as a freelance writer, or be prepared to lose out.

Which road will you take?

P.S.: SEO Copywriter Training Class Discount. Sign up to the newsletter to get the discount offered (limited time) on Inkwell Editorial’s SEO copywriting training class. See red, highlighted text at end of this week’s newsletter for details.

To subscribe, see the sign-up box to the right (top of column) on every page of this site. Once you subscribe, you will immediately be emailed the latest post, as well as all previous posts where a subscription is required.

Now, on to today’s post.
***************************

Last week, I received the following email from a fellow freelance writer about pen names. She wrote:

QUESTION

Hi there Yuwanda,

Did you use a pen name early in your writing career, or is Yuwanda Black your real name? I write for Helium, Brighthub etc under a pen name. These sites actually have a spot where you can actually put it in. But I wonder as I move forward with my writing career whether it’s ok to keep using the pen name, or will I look unprofessional, or does it not matter as long as I’m upfront with the client.

thanks for sharing
L-

MY ANSWER

I fired off a short answer, as I didn’t have time to get into detail, and I wanted to save my longer response for this week’s newsletter. The short answer I gave was:

You must be a subscriber to read the rest of this post. Don’t worry, it’s free! See subscriber details below.

Submit a Guest Post: This site and its sister site, SeoWritingJobs.com, now accepts guest posts.   Get the guest post submission guidelines.

P.S.: Want to start a successful career where you have the mobility to live and work where you please? Visit our freelance writing bookstore for a ton of opportunities (freelance writing and internet marketing) to get you started.

P.P.S.: Want an easy, fast way to get started in affiliate marketing, making as much as $50, $100 or $150/day? Get How to Make Money Placing Ads on Free Classified Ad Sites (ie, Backpage.com). If you want to make some easy money promoting affiliate products on free classified ad sites, this ebook is for you. I’ve personally sold tens of thousands of dollars of e-products (my own and affiliate products) doing this since January 2009.

Note: As of April 6, you must be a subscriber to read new content on InkwellEditorial.com and its sister site on SEO writing, SeoWritingJobs.com. New content includes all posts written after 4/6/2010 (4/7/2010 on SeoWritingJobs.com).

To subscribe, simply look for the subscriber box to the top right-hand side of the page. There’s one on every page of the site.

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Why Subscribe? Get Real, First-Hand Advice from All Types of Freelance Writers

Week in and week out here, you get first-hand “freelance writing stories from the trenches.” I routinely relay my freelance writing experiences — everything from setting rates, to how to market, to knowing when to say no to a project. Also, I answer questions – in great detail (no fluff here!) — from other freelancers writers (new and experienced).

Recent posts you may have missed by not being a subscriber include:

Why I Turned Down a $2,000 – $3,000 Freelance Writing Job That Could Have Led to Even More Work and

How to Land More Clients by Making Your SEO Writing Stand Out from Others.

I look forward to having you as a subscriber.

Yuwanda
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Note: This is Part III of III of Inkwell Editorial’s article marketing tutorial. Read Parts I and II.

With hundreds of articles circulating on the net, I often wonder how much more traffic my sites would have had and how many more sales I could have generated had I known what I know now. But, as the famed poet Maya Angelou says, “When you know better, you do better.” 

Article Marketing: Definition of a Resource Box

For article marketers, the resource box is the most important part of the article. It is the main reason you slave over good content and give it away for free, after all. If you’re new to article marketing, you may be wondering, “What is a resource box?”

A resource box is the part where you get to promote yourself, your product/service and/or your website/blog. A good one will do all three. It’s included at the end of published articles you write. See the end of this article on how to get high-paying SEO writing gigs for an example of a resource box.

Resource boxes can be long or short. Most fall within the 3-6 line range. The length is often determined by the restrictions of the article directory you submit your article to.

Now that you know what it is, you may be wondering how to write an effective one. There are 4 keys to writing an resource box that increases traffic and produces sales. They are:

4 Keys to Writing a Resource Box that Increases Web Traffic and Produces Ongoing Sales

Following are four things every effective resource box should have. It took me years to learn this, but I’ve definitely experienced the positive results of “getting it right,” so to speak.

1. Benefit to Readers: I used to write resources boxes that included more like a professional bio. They were all about my credentials. Readers don’t care about that as much as they care about what your credentials can do for them. This is a critical distinction.

So offer a free report, a more in-depth article on your website about the topic at hand, a free podcast – whatever it is, make it something the reader is interested enough to want to take action to get.

If your article has done its job, it’s already whetted the appetite of the prospect; your resource box should deliver on that.

2. Links: Article directories limit the number of links you can use in the body of your article; some don’t allow you to use any at all. They require you to put all links in your resource box. Usually, article directories allow anywhere from one to three links in the resource box. Do your best to use al of them. Speaking of links . . .  

3. Link with SEO in Mind: This can get a little complicated if you don’t understand, but bear with me for a simple explanation. The whole idea of article marketing is to generate traffic and make sales, right? The links in your article and/or its resource box do that. How?

When search engine spiders crawl the web and index the information found on each page (whether it’s a blog or website), one of the things that tell it what that page of information is all about is the words that make up a clickable link.  

To use an example, if I were to offer a free ebook on article marketing with this article, I would make the link to the words “free ebook on article marketing” like this in my resource box:

Example 1: Get a free ebook on article marketing to learn more.

I WOULD NOT WRITE:

Example 2: To get a free ebook on article marketing, click here.

Making the words “click here” in Example 2 linkable tells the search engines nothing about what the page is about. But, the words that make up the link in Example 1 tells search engines exactly what the page is about.

To remember this SEO tip, try not to ever make the words “click here” linkable. Links should be a description of what the page/article is about.

There’s one more tip about linking, which is the fourth thing that makes a resource box effective.

4. Home Page Link: One of the links in your resource box should always be to your home page. This is extremely important because one of the benefits of article marketing is building backlinks.

What are backlinks? Backlinks are simply when another site links back to your site. They drive traffic and position your site as an authority site. For a fuller explanation on why and how, read more about backlinks and the benefits of article marketing.

The benefit of article marketing is that each time your article is published on another website, another blog and/or in someone else’s e-newsletter, is that it creates another backlink to your main site. This can gain you thousands of backlinks pretty quickly. If you have a good navigation structure and an enticing home page, users will want to hang around to locate more information.

Backlinks push your site higher in rankings, which means more traffic. More traffic equals more sales. And, that’s what article marketing is all about.

Free Article Marketing Tutorial

Read this article marketing tutorial in its entirety and feel free to subscribe to our newsletter, RSS feed or Twitter account if you like this content (see sign-up boxes on the right-hand side of every page of InkwellEditorial.com).