May
18
I’ve been writing for many years now. I have hundreds or articles and posts 
between three different sites, and over the years, they all fall down into the depths of my sites.
If you are a blogger, you know what I’m talking about. Each day you sit down to write on a new subject that’s pertinent to today and to your market. But if you’ve ever searched back through your categories, chances are you’ll find something similar from several months before.
How can you use old information to help you gain clients today?
Let’s look at three strategies.
1. Instead of sitting down with an entirely new idea, choose a category instead. Then click over to that category on your blog and start reading some of your posts from the past few months.
Are there any posts that would make an interesting topic today?
Are there several posts that you can combine together to make a new point?
Start writing your new post, linking back to the old posts as reference. It will give your old posts traction (people click through to read your point) and will help you dive deeper into a topic you have a lot of knowledge in.
Apr
16
What makes a blog post more readable?
In many cases it’s the images that accompanies the story.
Blogging tends to be all about writing up an article, and posting it to speak to different target audiences in your niche. But even if people do come to your blog for your content, adding graphics and photographs can actually make things more readable. And more memorable.
1. Add an image that complements the article.
This is 
probably the most common way of mixing images and text. After a post is written, the writer heads out to a stock photo site and finds an image that fits the view of the story. There are a variety of ways to find photographs. For a small fee, you can use sites like IstockPhoto.com and ShutterStock.com. Or try one of the many free sites for stock photography – here’s a good list.
2. Add an image that has its own voice. 
In some cases you actually build your post around the image itself. On one of my other blogs, I have a series in which I find marketing examples from different photographers’ blogs. I start with a screen shot of their blog page, and write the post around why they have a great marketing idea. The concept is called One Great Idea, and its very detailed and provides my readers with one takeaway idea they can apply to their own businesses. So the photograph becomes the purpose, or the overall center of the blog post.
3. Use an image as a training tool. 
Some posts become step by step guide to getting something done. In that case, one, two, or even more photographs or screen shots may be used to teach people how to do something. Do this, then that. A great example is in my post Using A Blog To Get To The Top Of The Search Engines. Through a series of screen shots, I share with my readers how I created a series of posts to capture a high ranking on Google, and then follow it up by showing screen shots of Google with the rankings in place. The graphics support the article, and help the reader to make more sense of the information.
Mar
3
You blog regularly. And you have a fair amount of traffic to your blog.
But what motivates them to want to become faithful readers?
Content
People usually find you because of your content. They may even stay around awhile if you have enough to look at. But the only thing that will bring them back is quality. If they know they can look to you as a resource – as an expert – they will come back.
What makes you different?
I have a ton of blogs in my RSS feed reader. Some I click on and read more faithfully then others. Ultimately it comes down to what they offer. If I know I can read through their material and gain “aha” moments, I’ll be back regularly.
What do you have of value?
Five to ten years ago, many websites made an offer to sign up for a free ezine, or newsletter. That worked well then – not any more. I’m on a ton of ezine lists now, and not a lot of time to go through them day after day. What matters now is relevant information. If you offer something that people can use and process immediately, they’ll be back.
Personality
People still love doing business with people. They like to build up a relationship and give their business to people they feel comfortable with. While that doesn’t mean someone you can have a one-to-one with anymore, it is important that you get a flare of their personality. Showcase your personal photographs. Talk about your vacation. Share your weekend adventures. Everything in moderation. But it is important for people to see the personal side of you.
Jan
26
What’s the biggest thing standing in your way of success?
If you’re like most people, I’m sure you can come up with a list of things that are currently holding you back. But ultimately all of it can be lumped into one of two things: 
1. I don’t have enough time
2. I don’t have the money
How can you overcome them to be more successful online?
1. We all have a ton of things to do each day. And if you own your own business, that list can seem to grow to a mile long some times. How do you squeeze it all in?
Priorities. What is the most important thing you can do today that will impact your business in the future?
Try this activity. Write down everything you need to accomplish today that will help you build your business. Then prioritize them as a 1, 2 or 3.
Jan
15
Blogging For Business Tip #10
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I’ve been on several social sites lately where people have asked the question, “How do I gain traffic to my blog?” So as my Blogging For Business Tip #10, I thought I would include ten simple ways you can gain traffic to your blog.
1. Write quality posts all the time. Yep, I know, I’m a broken record. But regular content is really the key to building up your following. If they get there and you haven’t written in two months, or you only have 10 posts to go through, there’s no reason to stick around.
2. Now that you have blog posts, you need to spread them around the blogosphere. Connect your RSS feed to your accounts in Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
3. Stay active in your social sites, and your sure to find other bloggers that target similar audiences. When they create a new blog post, head over and make a comment. Not a, “great post” comment. Put some thought into it, and really add to the conversation. The comment will make people want to find out more about you, which they can do by following your link.
Nov
21
Blogging For Business Tip #9
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"Is it okay to promote?"
Everyone tells you blogging isn’t about blatant promotion.
"You should be offering great advice to your readers. "
"Offer them something of substance."
But the whole reason you’re online is to do business. Can’t you promote yourself too?
Yes!
Adding a bunch of content
is great. The purpose is to provide enough content to prove your expertise, and to develop relationships that enjoy the information you supply.
Online people have a choice. If they don’t like what you do, they have the opportunity to leave. I have many lists of email addresses that I promote to all the time. And occasionally I promote a product, service, or even a special promotion. And yes, I have people leave my lists every time, saying they don’t want to be sold to.
But think about that for a minute. If you’re offering a ton of quality information on a regular basis, occasionally you have the right to ask for the sale. You have to stay in Read more
Nov
17
The Good and the Bad of Blogging Online
Filed Under Blogging Tips | 2 Comments
Blogging means you can have instant awareness to millions of people. If they like what have to say, it may circulate. If they hate what you have to say, it could be a virtual wildfire.
This past Saturday a new ad was put up on the Motrin site. It was an ad about moms using slings to carry their babies [read the full description here]. Unfortunately they made the assumption that moms use slings to be fashionable, even though it made them tired and crazy.
Moms spoke back. Big time. 
Within minutes, bloggers began posting about the video, and how they found it offensive. On Twitter, “motrin” zoomed to the top of the most tweeted subject. That’s the power of online media. [you can follow the #motrin trend on hashtag]
As of Monday morning, the video is gone from the Motrin site, though it will probably live on YouTube Read more
Nov
5
Blogging For Business Tip #8
Filed Under Blogging Tips | 1 Comment
How do you write a perfect blog title?
You can spend hours creating the perfect post. You can write, edit, and edit some more. No matter what you have to say in your post, if your title doesn’t capture attention, no one will ever read it.
A blog title is important because:
- It’s the first thing people see – they make a split decision to keep reading or not.
- Your title becomes your long tail – will it help find you traffic in Google and other search engines?
- Your title feeds into your title tags, and can also help you gain traffic in the search engines.
- It sets up your story. It’s what people see if you are using RSS to announce your information in other places.
Oct
24
Blogging For Business Tip #7
Filed Under Blogging Tips | Leave a Comment
You’re blogging along.
Your blog is new and you enjoy writing.
Then you have another great idea. You start planning an event and a new product.
You take on a new client that requires a lot of time.
And you forget about blogging.
I hear that same scenario again and again.
What about marketing? Do you forget to mail out your postcards when a client keeps you busy? Or do you forget to put your ad together because you’re planning an event? Of course not.
But somehow blogging is different bec
ause it takes time. When really all it comes down to is time management.
Remember, the best thing about your blog is the calendar feature – you can release a new blog post whenever you like – just change the time and date.
Two strategies that work well.
1. One day a week write several blog posts and post date them. If Monday mornings are quiet, schedule an hour or two and write.
2. Set up your days with writing ideas. Maybe Monday is "How To" day. Tuesday is "Find A Resource" day. Wednesday is "Practical Tip" day. Thursday is "Case Study" day. And Friday is "Inspiration" day.
The important thing is to create your system ahead of time, and know what it takes to get the job done.
Sep
15
What a weekend!
I spent the last few days attending a blogging and social networking convention – the IZEAFest – in Orlando, and brought home a strategy of where I’ll be taking my blogs in the future. It was eye opening to me to discover I’m doing so much right [or at least doing what some of the most successful bloggers in the industry are doing] and also to pick up a few refining details that are going to make the next four months of 2008 even more succes
sful.
So, if you have a blog, what are the basic strategies you should have in place to make it all a success?
1. Never settle for what you currently have. There are always ways to make what you have even better, work to achieve greater success, and find different more efficient ways of doing what you are doing.
2. Don’t be afraid. Unfortunately, much of what is out there today can seem a bit overwhelming. It’s easier to not do anything, and take no action than to try something new and risk failing. Failing is what brought many of today’s most successful bloggers their greatest successes.
3. Focus on your readers, not on Google. If you’ve ever worried about what makes Google happy, quit worrying. Instead find what makes your readers happy. Give them the content they want, and the information they are searching for. If you can get readers to follow you regularly, Google will follow.
4. Create a strategy. Why are you starting this blog? What is its ultimate purpose? What is your exit strategy? The more you have in place up front, the easier it will be to create over time.
5. Become hyperconnected. Be everywhere. Instead of having one or two sites, and maybe one or two social sites you’re active on, be everywhere. Your clients have different likes, different interests, and different searching patters. If you have a presence where they are looking, you’ll gain clients. Its as simple as that.
Above all, be true to your readers. Your readers don’t care if you make money, don’t care about your business, or care about off-topic issues. They look to you for one reason – what you started your blog on in the first place. Give them what they want, and you’ll find success.
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