Leadership these days is about authenticity & connection By Melanie A. Greenberg, Ph.D….

Via www.psychologytoday.com

Outrider has offered a very informative and historical infographic that offers a timeline of Google Algorithm Changes. All SEO’s can …

Via www.searchenginejournal.com

On the value of unconscious association, or why the best advice is no advice.

Via www.brainpickings.org

In a minute or less, visitors decide whether to stay on your site or leave. Here are six tips to ensure they stay. (Internet users simply aren’t the same as they were ten years ago… so why are we writing the same way for them?

Via www.smartz.com

What is the Recipe for a Great Blog Post?

Via www.stumbleupon.com

This week on The Lede – everything you ever wanted to know about content marketing headlines …

Via www.copyblogger.com

A few quick tips from Kate Toon, an award-winning, Sydney-based copywriter. Everything budding copywriters need to know!

Via www.katetooncopywriter.com.au

Blog post at The business of being a blogger : Serious question now… do you have a press page on your blog? Put your hand up if the answer is no…

Hands up?

Via www.saraharrow.co.uk

This is a guest post by Gregory Ciotti of Sparring Mind. YouTube is the next big thing for blogging. Seems …

Via www.problogger.net

Is your guest blogging application process meeting with rejection? Ann Smarty of My Blog Guest shares 8 tips to help you land the spot every time.

Via www.seocopywriting.com

The quality of the content on your Website matters.

If you walked into a brick-and-mortar business office and noticed that the roof was leaking, the carpet was stained, and the furniture was out of date, would that affect your opinion of effectiveness and quality of the business? Of course it would! Environment matters, and in the world of online business, your Website design and content are your environment.

(That’s why it pays to hire a professional content copywriter or content editor to manage your Website’s content production.)

The excerpt below is from an article that discusses how costly content errors can be for online businesses. Click the link at the bottom to read the full original article.

“When communicating online, almost every message you make is done by written word. This is the main reason that it is essential that your website content be original and error-free.   Quality content can create an inherent trust in site visitors that leads to more conversions and profit. In order to stand out from the competition, you need to appear like an established authority on your subject matter. This is why the quality of your website content should not be ignored or dismissed as trivial.   When improper spelling on a website is fixed, it has been shown to increase sales as much as 100%. A single spelling or grammar mistake in your text can lead people to be wary of some sort of scam, sending potential customers running.”
Show original

Can your business run on an iPad? The answer lies within the iTunes App store. Loaded with the right apps, your iPad can serve just about any business function you encounter. From launching presentations to managing your social media accounts, the iPad tackles them all and asks for more.

Must-Have Apps for Copywriters and Freelance Writers

1. Pages : $9.99. If you write anything longer than an email, you’re going to need a word processing app. The standard Notes app that comes pre-installed on your iPad is ok, but it leaves a lot to be desired. Pages is comparable to Microsoft Word and gives you some essential features like formatted text options, word count, and spell checker.
2. Note Taker HD : $4.99. This app is a must-have all-purpose app for anyone who uses their iPad for business. It gives you the ability to import images and PDFs, as well as annotate imported files. It supports handwriting and typed text entries, and comes pre-loaded with tons of nifty extras. I used this app to take notes during a seminar by importing the provided PDF into the program, and my kids used it to map out their dream clubhouse floorplan. I also used it to demonstrate how home health nurses can fill out nursing notes in the field and email them back to the business office for real-time updates on patient conditions.
3. Dropbox : Free. If you haven’t used Dropbox before, you’re missing out. Dropbox has replaced my habit of emailing important files to myself to keep them safe and accessible. It’s free (or at least the first 2 GB are) and easy to use. Simply drag and drop files on your computer into the Dropbox folder and they are stored online, accessible from any Internet ready electronic device. You can favorite files for offline viewing, save email attachments, and easily sync all your important files. There’s no need to move files around to your phone, laptop, or iPad for meetings on the go. If it’s saved to your Dropbox folder, it’s ready to access from anywhere.
4. Chapters : $3.99. If you’re into journaling, or even if you are sketching out a novel or eBook, Chapters helps you keep your life organized. It’s a simple word processing app that allows you to create separate notebooks for storing your files. It’s also handy for storing massive quantities of research material or notes from client conferences.
5. OmmWriter : $4.99. This is the word processor app for when your muse has a hangover, and writer’s block is your new BFF. It’s clean, simple, and once you plug in some headphones, the background sounds help you find your focus and keep it.
6. Hootsuite : Free. If you work online, social media management is one of those daily tasks that produces a love/hate tug-of-war within your schedule. You know you need social media, but it can eat you alive if you’re not careful. Hootsuite is a trusted friend at Blue Duck Copy, and we were excited to see a Hootsuite app arrive for the iPad. It allows you to manage all your social media feeds (Like Twitter, facebook, and LinkedIn) from multiple accounts, within the same interface. It saves you time and reduces your chances of seeing the Fail Whale, which is always a good perk when you have 15 minutes allocated in your agenda for social media management.
7. Dragon Dictation: Free. Sometimes you just need your hands for things other than typing (or perhaps you are the world’s worst chicken-pecker and abhor typing). Dragon Dictation comes to the rescue during those times when your multi-tasking reaches new levels of creative. Say for example you are changing a diaper while taking a conference call with a potential client, or perhaps driving in a creeping block of gridlocked traffic while brainstorming ideas for taglines and headlines for a new client. With the tap of a button, Dragon Dictation transcribes your spoken words into text, with surprising accuracy. Viola! Instant time management success!
8. Squrl : Free. I pay dearly for my Internet usage out here in rural America, and so anytime I can hop on free Wi-Fi while I’m out and about, I do. Squrl is one of those little apps that make you feel like smiling. It allows aggregation of your favorite videos and allows you to watch them later. Simply run a YouTube search for videos pertinent to your niche, Squrl them away, and watch them at your leisure.
9. Bento : $4.99. Just like its Big Brother for Mac, Bento for the iPad is one of the slickest personal database programs available to date. Even if you don’t have the full Mac version to sync with, the iPad version is robust enough to satisfy. Create your own forms or choose from the included templates to make your business run smoothly.
10. Quickoffice Pro HD :$14.99. This little app packs a big punch and is comparable to the Microsoft Office suite of programs. Word processing, file sharing, editing, PDF functionality, spreadsheets, and Power Point presentations all filter into this app with ease. If you’re brave enough (or desperate) you can even create Power Point presentations within the app.
11. WordPress : Free. Bloggers know that WordPress rocks, and now you can churn out posts from anywhere with the WordPress iPad app. The original version was a bit buggy, but the latest update has the app running smooth as melted butter.
12. Read It Later: Free.  Another bandwith saving app is ReadItLater. It allows you to visit websites, and earmark information for viewing at a later date. This app is very nice for when you want to surf and skim, but want to save all the intimate details for a time when you can devote your full attention to the text. It works well for brainstorming and gathering research on new topics, as well as checking out what your competition is up to. The developer’s blurb describes it as “DVR for the Web.”
13. HoursTracker: $2.99. All freelancers have their own system of tracking how much time is spent on a particular project, but Hours Tracker for iPad makes the process easy. This app is straight forward and easy to navigate with a minimal learning curve.
14. ARTREE : $1.99. Ok, this app isn’t productive; it isn’t even related to business, but it’s great for zoning out an over-stressed brain. The simplistic creative nature of the app is memorizing (even for kids), but it isn’t for everyone. My husband, for example, found it to be pointless and “weird.” You choose colors and simple shapes, and the app grows a unique tree based on your settings. With relaxing background music and pleasantly meandering branches and blooms, this app is the perfect accessory to your coffee break or brainstorming session.
15. Pulse News: Free. If you’re looking for a easy to use feed aggregator, Pulse News for iPad may be just what you’re looking for. Choose from the provided news sources, add a themed channel, or run a custom search for your favorite websites and blogs for streamlined access to all the latest headlines on topics that matter to you.

While this list is nowhere near complete, these are the top 15 apps I use in managing and producing website and SEO content for my clients. What are your must-have iPad apps for running your business?