Lisa’s SEO Ramblings

As I battle back and forth every week about life, included in this battle is how to grow my business. When I began my full time freelance journey two years ago, I never imagined that freelancing would develop into having my own marketing and writing service.

I figured after three years, I would be able to sub-contract out some of the extra work I received but not within six months of starting at this full time! So this was my first accomplishment that took me by surprise. After business began growing, I needed to develop a new plan which included a business name, branding and a plan of action. PearlyWrites, LLC was born on Jan. 3, 2006 but Lisa Weinberger, the freelancer, started in the late 90’s. (Oy vey, I’m so old.)

Full time freelancing from June of 2005, I just celebrated my two year accomplishment of still pushing forward and growing. Two years ago, I would have never thought that I would have provided copy or instructional design to PBS or NAF but I have! I never thought that a large amount of Web copy would be ghostwritten over the Internet, but it’s out there. AND I never thought I would become a “blogger” sharing my thoughts over the Internet for anyone in the world to read.

Online marketing and SEO has been a blessing in disguise. Although I use the basic techniques like keyword research, meta tags, press release distribution, article submissions and changing Web copy, it has opened many doors for me as a business owner as well as many of the writers I collaborate with on projects.

So what is the time for change? Well every year I try to redesign my Website for a fresh new look. One client I provide copy to has been working on my new PearlyWrites site and hoping in the next month it should be ready to go live. (Bartering is awesome!) It is a very professional looking site with still my “creative” edge and I think many of you will be impressed with the Web designers work.

Once the new site is up and running, the plan is to push forward with a strong marketing campaign to see what results I will get. To keep consistent work throughout the year, marketing and sending out bids on projects and making long term client connections is VERY important in the freelance business.

This morning I check my e-mail to find an e-mail from someone I have never met. At first I thought it was spam and then after reviewing it several times, I decided to respond. I have copied and pasted below the entire e-mail conversation as I would LOVE to get other’s opinion about what this mystery person said/wrote to me. Was she right or just being rude?

claudia marks wrote:
I was interested in hiring you and read your web site. I was appalled when I came to the following paragraph in the Dishonesty section. How a writer who professes such credentials could allow something this sloppy is beyond me.

I will be taking legal action against this client. What have I learned? No matter how long you have been in business, their are always dishonest people who are always trying to screw you over and get something for free.

Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:29:05 -0700
From:

To: claudiamarks921@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: your web site

Where is this written on my Website? Please show me as I have checked and this is not on my site.

Thank you,
Lisa

claudia marks wrote: It’s on the side bar entitled Dishonesty, where you go into detail about being ripped off by a company …

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Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:58:23 -0700
From: Lisa@
To: claudiamarks921@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: your web site

I found it! It was under a blog of mine. OK I fixed the word. Thank you for pointing the mistake out. When I wrote this entry, I was very angry and should have gone back to review it once I cooled off to check my spelling.

I just returned from the east coast where I had to attend my grandmother’s funeral and sit Shiva. Receiving your email this morning, after being away was not the most pleasant thing. I am sorry that this incident has made you decide not to hire PW for your project.

Good luck,
Lisa Weinberger
PearlyWrites, LLC
602-288-8992

Well, I’m very sorry about your grandmother’s death, but you just displayed further your lack of professionalism saying how angry you were in one instance, then having to whine about getting my email and the reasons. Obviously, there is more at issue than a mistake you didn’t catch. Don’t write me again.

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So with the above e-mail, was I wrong and unprofessional? This Claudia Marks woman who claims I was unprofessional, not once did she address me by my name or left a signature. She misspelled the words Website and e-mail and was just plain nasty. To me a misspelling of “there” and ‘their” on a WORDPRESS blog is nothing when an e-mail is written and sent this way.

What do you think?