I just wanted to let everyone know that Supaproofread have setup a page on Facebook for people to join and become a fan of – Supaproofread’s Facebook page. I’m a big fan of social networks and bringing people closer together, and if you’re on our email list then chance are you have already received an email informing you of this.

We’re not jumping on the band wagon

Facebook is a great platform to keep people connected and even though many other companies have a Facebook page or group, I decided it was time for Supaproofread to establish the brand across social networks and build the actual Supaproofread brand to the academic and business communities – the two main areas of people who use Facebook.

The page is going to act as another point where information is going to be displayed and passed on to people, but most probably not in the form of blog posts etc, but highlighting news from the blog/site and important resources that should be read. If you are a member of Facebook, then I would appreciate you adding the Supaproofread Facebook page to the ones in your profile – it’s really quite simple.

Differentiation is key

I’ve been thinking over the past week or so, whilst I was sunning myself in Greece, how Supaproofread can differentiate itself, as a brand, from the competition. There has been so many different things running around in my head as to what we can do and I believe for the time being that social media is a key player in the marketing and brand building of Supaproofread as a professional proofreading and editing services company. Not only that, but a company that provides more than proofreading and editing services – an organisation that helps people achieve their goals, and I think this can be spread by the world of social media.

If you have a Facebook account, then you should consider adding Supaproofread to your pages, keeping up to date and informed about the latest news and information.

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Some of you may have noticed a few little changes around the Supaproofread.com site over the past few weeks.  We’ve moved about the Academic centre to bring more focus towards essay and dissertation guides, as well as other resources that are helpful to students.  Also, some extra articles and tips on writing have been added to the respective areas of the site, as well as continual update to different pages and services sections on Supaproofread.

There are going to be plenty more changes over the coming weeks to the blog and the site, and I’m also looking into setting up supacvs.com as a CV checking and writing service.  But, I’m just going through the motions at the moment to see if it is better to concentrate just on students and graduates, or to look at provising services to other individuals including professionals - I will update you as we go along.

Direction change

I know the blog hasn’t been updated in a while and that is my fault entirely, I wanted the blog to be a resource for many different people, but I think the direction lately has been somewhat obscure from how I first thought it should be at.  I am looking at placing more resources and guidance on the blog, and aiming to build a solid source of content for people to read, come back to, and comment on.

Increasing Traffic

Now, I do have a little background in traffic generation and know about keyword research and long-tail keyword terms to help build traffic to a site and for certain keywords, Supaproofread.com has been bouncing up and down on goggle (yes, I know it’s google) with excitement.  I know that it will settle down over the next coming weeks and months, but there is at the moment and going to be a huge push for back links to the blog and site to increase traffic.

I’m a huge believer in quality information and original content, so, there is going to be a lot more content and valuable information coming out on the blog in future weeks.  Also, there are going to be more developments to the actual services pages on the Supaproofread site and links out to other trusted sources – this may take a few more months to populate, but it’s going to add value to a visitors experience.  Now this is what I am all about – yes, Supaproofread.com is a site about making money from offering a service to other people who are a little unsure in their writing, but, I also feel that the more resources and information that people have when they visit the site will increase the chances of people becoming better writers and learning from mistakes highlighted.  A resource that people will bookmark and come back to, with the additional aspect of those individuals sharing information with their friends about our professional proofreading and editing services.

Other Sources

I’m also re-boosting the work I have been doing over at road2graduation.com and will continue to build resources as I will do here.  The challenge is going to be tough, but I’m sure I have the determination to bring about quality content and information to those who need it.  I’ll also be looking at recent books and other off-line resources that individuals should be looking through and reading.  Books are a great source of information and valuable resource.

Here’s to more quality information and establishing a brand that is worthy of the quality service we deliver.

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Well if you’re Irish or have any hint of green in you today is your day and I’m off to London to join in some Guinness style celebrations.

That does not mean I have spent the day drinking green liquid with a shamrock on the head as I have been hard at work on a new project that has just come in.  I have not used GAF for some time so I thought pitch for some of the larger projects on there.  It is sod’s law that I pitched for three and won two so now I have made a heavy rod for my back and not to mention my fingers!

It looks like I’ll have to burn the midnight oil this week to get both the assignments in but this is one of those occasions when it is warranted.  Both projects need to be complete by the end of the week and both pay in excess of $1,500 so this week I’m going to be making over £2,000 in total. 

That is what I call a result and only goes to demonstrate what is available out there.

Both of these projects required “experience” with the subject matter.  One is for an IT services provider supplying VOIP solutions (internet telephony) and one of my old jobs was in IT sales so though I don’t understand the technical detail I know some of the jargon.  That was enough to clinch the job.  Never forget to leverage what you have done in your past life to get writing assignments and it does not matter how old your experience is either - all that matters is how you present yourself and delivering the job.

I have to get the projects completed this week aside from the client imposed deadlines as I have another big project that will take a month kicking off next week anyway. 

As I have worked the weekend, I am taking tonight off and fully intend to look like a shamrock in the morning.

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I was flicking through some listings and came across one which immediately caught my eye as I have been following Karl Bushby’s around the world trek in unbroken footsteps - his expedition is called The Goliath Expedition and is 36,000 miles on foot.

The job I saw was for two writers to accompany an expedition to navigate the Kolyama River in Siberia starting in October for six months - in comparison this is a walk in the park.  I thought that it would be a bloody cold assignment and keybashing with frostbite an occupational hazard … and I was right.

The ad states that temperatures will be in the range of -30 degrees C - in other words if you took a pee outside it would be frozen before it hit the ground.  Still being of an adventurous bent I considered sending in my resume and writing to see what transpired.  I’m fit and active, ex Para with Arctic experience and a Russian speaker so why not?

Last night I had a dream and a sudden realisation of a time 25 years ago while sleeping rough on an exercise in Norway - I woke up with an icicle formed on the end of my nose from dripping snot, and it was so cold we had to double up in the sleeping bags to share bodily warmth.  My erstwhile sleeping partner decided to perform his ablutions in the middle of this, only to return with a dirty bum that left an indelible mark …. on me!

Halcyon days have long gone I suspect and in the refreshingly warm light of day, I have decided that if I am going to spend six months away on an assignment it is going to involve tropical seas, warm climate, hot and cold running water and girls, with an endlessly stocked mini bar and room service.

For the young turks amongst you who are interested in six months in Siberia you can find the job information here - it will be a once in a lifetime experience I can assure you

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I’ve been fielding emails and telephone calls this week from the client that has appointed me onto their writers panel (see my posts on The Big Deal).

If negotiations go to plan in Boston, where my principal currently is pitching the project, I have my first writing assignment which will result in being published offline in the heady world of the “printed word”. 

Part of me is thinking, “Bloody hell, it would have to be an insurance directory!”

Part of me is thinking, “Bloody hell, is that what they are going to pay me ”

Yet another  is thinking, “Bloody hell, I’ll be published - a real writer!”

When someone asks me where I’ve been published I won’t have to feel sheepish about giving them a website address to go and see my work but I do expect I’ll have to scan the published work so it can be emailed to them!

The paperless office!!

I’m smirking as I think about this as as a “writer”, I’ve aspired to getting myself onto paper rather than a computer screen.  Am I alone in feeling that I’m not a “real” writer until published on paper? 

Writing kudos revolves around being published; is being published a mark of popularity, commercial viability or simply tenacity?

Probably a mixture of all three.

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