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| | Post New Topic | | How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | Views: 91 | | Oct 31, 2009 12:05 am | | How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # | 
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Examiner.com is an online newspaper that focuses upon many major cities across the United States. The is an Examiner.com for San Francisco, for example. I know because I write for it in the area of small business. But, there may also be an Examiner.com near you. Now, why should you care? Because you may be able to get an Examiner.com journalist to write a story about your business. And, what do they charge to write a story about your business? Nothing. But, once the article is published, it can have significant value for your business as you can point to it as a source for your own credibility.
If you would like to see some articles I have written for some folks in my local community to help boost their credibility, visit San Francisco Examiner.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 01, 2009 12:25 pm | | re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # | 
Bobbi Jo Woods | | Thanks, I'll check it out
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 02, 2009 7:05 pm | | re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # | 
Liz Amason | | I've been an Examiner.com "reporter" for a little over a month. I believe it does help in raising me up in the search engines.
Here's a link to my articles, thus far:
http://www.examiner.com/x-21792-Boise-Green-Living-Examiner
Liz Amason
Shaklee Independent Distributor
Website: http://www.sowing4health.com
Blog: http://www.goodngreen.org
Private Reply to Liz Amason | | Nov 02, 2009 9:33 pm | | re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Liz,
I see you are a "Boise Green Living Examiner." As you know, Examiner.com recently upgraded the program that use for the placement of articles. With the old system, I could easily place numerous pictures in an article. However, wtih the new system I seem to be only able to place one picture and that happens right at the top of the page. I do not seem to have a choice any longer as to where a picture is placed. Is that the way the system is supposed to work? Or, is there a method for placing numerous pictures on a page right where you want them to appear?
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 04, 2009 10:28 am | | re: re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # | 
Eileen Brown | | Hey Folks.
I'd like an answer to Lamar's question too. I was also
accepted to write for the Wichita, KS Examiner in the area
of web development. My process is still in the workings,
and the background check is next on the agenda.
I hope I can post more than one picture as "how-to"
sometimes takes several screen shots, you know?
Eileen :O
Tweet ME @SuperEB - http://twitter.com/SuperEB
Web Development - http://www.bekansas.com/
Web Site Graphics - http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/
ABHP http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ ~~~ JOKE http://todaysjoke-network.ryze.com/
Private Reply to Eileen Brown | | Nov 04, 2009 11:11 am | | re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Liz Amason | | There are two composing/editing options in the "add an article" section; Advanced Editor & Basic Editor. Use the Basic Editor and you can still insert more than one pic.
(Not sure why they're named the way they are, because it almost seems like the "basic" one is actually the advanced version???)
I'm still pretty new to this resource also, so we'll have to keep each other posted on the latest & greatest ;-)
Have a blessed day!
Liz Amason
Shaklee Independent Distributor
Website: http://www.sowing4health.com
Blog: http://goodngreen.org
Private Reply to Liz Amason | | Nov 04, 2009 11:25 am | | re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Liz Amason | | I need to correct myself....
It appears the Advanced Editor is the one that does multiple pics....sorry bout that!
Liz Amason
Shaklee Independent Distributor
Website: http://www.sowing4health.com
Blog: http://www.goodngreen.org
Private Reply to Liz Amason | | Nov 04, 2009 11:57 am | | re: re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | I placed an application for St. Paul Small Business Web Examiner, but I put it on hold to gather my sample article...which they want to be 200-300 words. Most of the stuff I write is 10,000+ words, so that will be a challenge!
I'm sort of wanting to not finish the application though, because after reading through a few other Examiner articles throughout other states, I'm appalled to find:
-Comments on articles are always little to none. Do people even read them? I can probably find better (and easier) ways to get good traffic/SEO.
-There are a vast amount of articles with multiple spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. I'm talking about basic stuff being completely overlooked, like "should of", "it's" instead of, "its", etc.
These things make me want to hurl, and then immediately reject the idea that whoever writes this badly is supposed to be a professional, and that these contributors are people we're to take seriously as experts.
Sorry, I can't. The minute I see glaring errors on a web page, I have a knee-jerk reaction to want to leave.
I'm torn.
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 04, 2009 1:23 pm | | re: re: re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Bobbi Jo,
Examiner.com is huge. There are a lot of folks who write for it. Therefore, it is not surprising to me that there are a lot of errors. I am not excusing the mistakes. I do think Examiner.com should do a better job of policing their own writers. But, let's put the fault where it actually belongs. The folks who actually write those articles should be more careful. After all, they had "to qualify" to be able to do this. Examiner.com is not a bunch of little blogs.
I doubt anyone is going to get much more than gasoline money from Examiner.com for writing articles. So, why even bother? Because you may end up establishing your creditability in a significant way by writing articles that actually get published in an online newspaper with your own by-line.
Examiner.com is a "branding tool" for who you are and what you do. As I see it, that's the true value of Examine.com. If you can get other folks to subscribe to your column, you expand your influence. And, who would not want that to be part of their game plan?
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 04, 2009 2:47 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # | 
Scott Wolpow | | Lamar,
When you say people write for them, are these employees or freelancers [meaning paid workers]?
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 04, 2009 4:36 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | Lamar
I agree with you saying that Examiner.com needs to be more careful with their writers/contributors, but policing content for erros/grammar issues won't do the job, especially since I doubt there is anyone in place to be "editor" other than ensuring each submission contains no porn, etc. Examiner.com needs to simply be more selective in who they actually approve, to be amongst the ranks of those contributing expert content. I do not see much of that.
You cannot make a good writer out of someone who is not, without much time invested into proper English, copy-editing and other literary lessons being put into practice on a regular basis, and let's face it--a lot of the folks I was blasting for their poor articles--they're the kind of micro businesses or home-based biz folks (like many of us are), but the difference is, they will not go to the lengths mentioned above, in order to come out on top with click-worthy, effective, professional articles. I get the impression they'd prefer to remain somewhat lazy in that respect. Their content is OK and in many cases, relevant to their topic. But like you said, there is opportunity for strong writers to contribute their wisdom and expertise to really be effective in gaining a following through the Examiner.com site.
There are currently no contributors covering my topic of choice in either the St. Paul or Minneapolis editions. If I decide to go with my decision to apply (my application has been saved and is good for 13 more days), I'm sure I'll do better than most.
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 04, 2009 5:57 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Eileen Brown | | Hmmm...
I had no problem writing a 300 word (exactly) article. I
guess it depends on your experience with writing and this
will certainly not be my first paid writing experience.
Looking around, I've found some great articles at About.com
and some of the worst (as BJ stated) crapola I've ever seen
on the web. Examiner.com is not going to be any different
than About.com except for one thing... it's name lends it
more credibility.
Let's face it, most online writing venues fall into one of
three categories: Blogs, articles, how-tos. There is a
vast difference between what you'd write in a blog (first
person opinion), an article (third person expertise) and
steps to doing a task (how-to). I'd say about 80% of
web "writers" don't really know the difference.
So, as I considered whether to begin writing articles for
Examiner.com, I knew darn good and well that I would shine
above all the writers I saw in my area and indeed the
national edition. I think that is good news, eh? As for
followers, if you give good advice, with a decent writing
style, you will be ahead of most web writers anyhowsen.
.02
Eileen :D
Tweet ME @SuperEB - http://twitter.com/SuperEB
Web Development - http://www.bekansas.com/
Web Site Graphics - http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/
ABHP http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ ~~~ JOKE http://todaysjoke-network.ryze.com/
Private Reply to Eileen Brown | | Nov 04, 2009 6:05 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Eileen Brown | | Hiya Liz.
Thanks for the heads up on the difference between writing
in advanced and basic. I'm not there (Examiner) yet, but
expect to be in the next day or two. I'll certainly get
with you (and Lamar) once I've one published the first
article. LOL
I started at Qassia some time back, but that place did not
pan out, at all, as a good place to post articles, after
all. I did not pick it, it was recommended to me and I
took a friend at their word, at the time.
After checking around, I think Examiner.com has a good
overall reputation, a good client base, and the right
attitude about hiring writers, and compensating them as to
traffic and interest.
We'll see what happens, eh?
Eileen :D
Tweet ME @SuperEB - http://twitter.com/SuperEB
Web Development - http://www.bekansas.com/
Web Site Graphics - http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/
ABHP http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ ~~~ JOKE http://todaysjoke-network.ryze.com/
Private Reply to Eileen Brown | | Nov 04, 2009 6:09 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Scott,
From my perspective, Examiner.com works in a fashion similar to Squidoo. If my Squidoo lens gets a lot of traffic one month, I will get paid something that month. If it does not get good traffic, I get paid nothing. Squidoo is focused on the building of "now-blogs."
Examiner.com is focused on newsworthy articles. Every writer for Examiner.com has his own column. Want to see mine? Go to Lamar Morgan's Small Business Column.
Since you live in New York City, if you wanted to have your own column about technology, just write an article and submit it to Examiner.com. Since you have a background in this area, I would expect them to approve your request to be a writer. They do not allow every person who wants to write for them to do it. They do turn some folks away. But, I would be truly shocked if they did not want you to write for the New York City publication.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 04, 2009 6:16 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Then it is simply another blog with only slight oversite.
You are right, it is just another Squidoo.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Nov 04, 2009 6:23 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Bobbi Jo,
I got confirmation from my Examiner.com rep (yes, everybody has one), that you can be the subject of your own articles. But, I do not recommend it. Instead, I encourage you to write about folks other than yourself. Show off your skill and knowledge in the process of lifting up other folks. After all, you should want "eyes" to see your article in print. The best way to do that is to write about other folks. The folks you choose to write about will bring other folks to see that article. Why? Because it showcases their business. You lift other up...first. The next thing you know, others lift you up. It's a great "game theory" strategy for drawing attention to yourself...without looking like you are trying to draw attention to yourself. While this is your design (your plan), it is not what people are really focused on who visit your Examiner page. The folks who visit your Examiner page are simply focused on the content of the article they are reading.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!  |
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Nov 04, 2009 11:24 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | Lamar
You said...
"Bobbi Jo, I got confirmation from my Examiner.com rep (yes, everybody has one), that you can be the subject of your own articles. But, I do not recommend it. Instead, I encourage you to write about folks other than yourself."
Who said I wanted to write about myself? Not sure what you are talking about.
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Nov 05, 2009 4:17 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: How Examiner.com May Be Able to Help You | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Bobbi Jo,
Here's the deal. When you become a writer for the Examiner, you are given the opportunity to write what you know best. Some folks choose to write about food, for example. And, when they write about food, it's their recipes they are writing about - not the recipes of other people. In other words, they are using the Examiner to self-promote. And, why would they bother to go that route? Because they know the Examiner is NOT going to pay them what their time is worth. So, they see the need to leverage the opportunity so that it actually becomes worth their time. So, if they have written a book with recipes, they will share a recipe in hope that you will go to Amazon.com and buy the book - thanks in part to their being an Examiner food columnist.
I am coming from a slightly different perspective. I want to leverage my involvement in the Examiner by lifting up small businesses. The idea is I write about them. They get other small businesses to see the article written about them. Those other small businesses seek me out to write about them. The next thing you know, I have an online Examiner following. I have become a "goto" person - a netweaver - for the small business community near where I live. My hope is that because I have become an Examiner writer when I have an idea, people will listen. Why? Because I will have established some level of credibility in the community through my unselfish willingness to write articles about small businesses. While I feel this is a very attainable goal, I have yet to reach it. But, I am definitely making the effort. As odd as it sounds, I may end up having to send some folks to jail to make that happen. There are some very underhanded things going on in my community. And, I intend to expose them. Not because I have an ego that demands the attention, but because I simply cannot tolerate the injustice and utter stupidity I see around me.
Besides, for me, it is a lot easier to write about other people in the Examiner than it is to write about myself. With the coming of this Sunday's Lake County Social Media Workshop, I really wanted someone other than myself to write an article about it in the San Francisco Examiner. So, I inquired to my Examiner rep as to how to go about finding someone to do it for me. To my surprise, my rep instructed me to do it. That was not my preference. But, that is what I ended up doing because I was instructed to do it that way.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
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