I thought I would write a little educational piece on the blogging world. Why? In the years I've spent dipping into Internet Marketing, I've found blogging to be one of the hottest tools out there...yet most people don't know what to do with a blog once they get it up.
So here you go folks! Time for a blog run-down...
Ok, so some of you may be total internet marketing newbies and aren't even too sure on what a blog is, so I'll start there. A blog is a website of sorts used to post entries (like a diary) on whatever topic you're excited to share with the world. Maybe you'll use your blog to write about your company's progress or affiliate products you're selling. Maybe you want to write about environmental issues or the latest in politics.
My only warning is, make sure you like your general theme, whatever it may be. Did you know blogs on the Technorati 100 list (a ranking of top blogs) consist of users who've been writing their blogs for an average of 33.8 months??? So that's why you want to pick something you like writing about.
Now, don't let that discourage you! Everything takes a little time to build, right?
Let me give you some top tips on how to make your blog a hit so you don't have to wait 2+ years to get a following.
First, I recommend you make a content plan - before you even make one post! Figure out how many times per week you want to make posts. Do you want to post several short posts a day, a couple times a week? Or do you want to write more detailed posts every day? You don't have to overdo it to make people interested - keep that in mind. So, let's say you want to write one post 5 days a week. I suggest you make a content plan (a topic per entry) for one full month - about 20 or so topics. You will really be thankful for this on days where you have little time to write, or days when you are stuck on what to write about.
Second, I recommend you link to really great stuff in your blog! Whether you embed a YouTube video and make that your post, add a poll or survey, link to other people's blogs, etc. Most internet users come to the internet to communicate and have some fun. People spend hours surfing for entertaining videos, pictures, or audio. So why not include those in your blog? Your following will love it! Caution: Do not over-use this. Just sprinkle these ideas throughout your blog - maybe a couple a week, depending on how much you post.
And third, remember that people LOVE lists. What do I mean by this? If you made a post on "The Top 5 Things You'll Hate About _____" or "9 Ways to Get Out of _______", etc. Readers probably don't want to spend hours on your blog. They have other places to go, right? So keep that in mind when sitting down to write. Keep it short and sweet and they will get their dose, AND be sure to share with others.
Rex Wisehart, http://www.AskRexWisehart.com spent thirty years of his professional life as a late-stage business turnaround consultant. Throughout this time, Rex attempted thirty-eight turnarounds; twenty-seven of which were extremely successful. In 1999, Rex gave up the consulting business and today, he is a principal and CEO of seven small businesses and is a frequent speaker to groups. |
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