Here are my 5 common mistakes that I see new bloggers make and most importantly how you can avoid them.

1. Treating the blogging marathon as a sprint

Blogging is an endurance activity. If you were running a marathon (why would you do that?) would you start with a sprint or go with a slow steady pace that can last you for the long haul.

New bloggers are excited. You’ve got a lot of ideas in your head. The creative juices are flowing. You write. You publish. You write more. You publish.

About a month or two in, you are bound to hit a creativity draught. It happens to all bloggers. What do I want to write next? The muse isn’t speaking. Maybe you decide that you’re just not going to post this week. Thus, begins the slow death of your blog.

While you are excited about blogging, save some of those posts for the future. I’d recommend to have 3 or 4 weeks of posts done. For me, I’m lucky to be 2 weeks ahead. For instance, this post was written on May 25th and not published to June 19th. Plan and write posts well in advance.

2. Posting sporadically

One week you post 5 times, the next week 3, the following 4, then 2, then 1 and then uh-oh the big ZERO! The goal of blogging is to post consistently. Pick the number of times a week you want to post and the dates when you want to post. For me, twice a week works. My posts are published on Sunday evenings at 6pm and Wednesday mornings at 7am. Like clock work unless there is a holiday because who is reading blogs on a 3-day weekend?

If you use WordPress, use this editorial calendar plugin to see when your posts are scheduled and to plan a new post. Not a WordPress fan? Start an editorial calendar in Google calendars. You need one to plan your blogs in advance.

3. Questionable headline…what does it mean?

I love fun, quirky blog titles. I’m a huge fan of creativity; however, some headlines inspire a “WTF?” instead of a click. My first blog post fell into this trap. It was What’s Uggs Got to Do With It. It sucked. I’m ok with that as we all have to start somewhere. The title made sense once you read the post, but the title is what makes people click.

You have to give the people who might read your blog a clue what it’s about. Search Engine Optimization experts would say you need to make sure you have a keyword in your title so Google knows what your post is about. I’d say you want to include your keyword because readers need to know what the heck your post is about.

Copyblogger has an excellent resource on writing magnetic headlines. Check it out.

4. Posting on Friday night

I am not a big believer in the idea that there is one best time to post, but I do believe there are a couple of times during the week where posting a new blog is a complete waste of time. You might as well set your post on fire because launching a new post on a Friday night or Saturday is a waste of time.

No one is reading your blog on a Friday night. No one. I’m too busy drinking Malbec and watching Shark Tank to click on the link to your new brilliant post. Take the weekend off. Go out for dinner, but don’t push publish on a Friday night!

My Google analytics reveal one big fact – the slowest days for traffic on this site are Friday evenings and Saturdays. Every week – those are the 2 days with the lowest traffic. Avoid them.

5. Admitting defeat too soon

New bloggers need to be a little delusional. Act as if the whole world if reading your blog even if it’s only your spouse, your best friend and your 2 cats. Don’t check your Google analytics at all during the first 3 months. Just don’t do it. It’s sad to find out that your epic post got 3 views.

There’s a statistic that floats around the Interwebs saying nearly 80% of new blogs are abandoned in the first 3-months. Why does this happen? Newbie bloggers run out of creative steam, become discouraged due to lack of traffic and write headlines that don’t get them noticed.

Keep blogging. Develop your blogging endurance. Remember, Chris Brogan blogged for 10-years before his blog took off. There’s no such thing as an overnight sensation in the blogosphere. Keep calm and blog on!

Got a question about blogging? Ask in the comment section below.

Make Sure You’re Using the Right Platform
Today, there are dozens of different blogging platforms and software programs available. Unfortunately, not all of these translate to good SEO. Writing your blog using a program like WordPress ensures that your optimization efforts are getting the exposure you want.

Be Intentional
Focusing your blog on keywords that are relevant to your content, products or information is essential. Instead of writing off the cuff, plan ahead of time in order to make sure you’re using the keywords you want to attract readers.

Keep Writing
In order to keep your blog relevant and fresh, make sure that you’re posting often. Be consistent with your posts and SEO writing, and publish a minimum of three times a week. Keep in mind that blogs maintain their SEO-friendly status by being updated often.

Write Conversationally
Blogs are usually written in a much more casual tone than static content or informative web pages. With this in mind, keep your SEO writing light and your tone conversational. You don’t want your keywords to sound forced or pushy, or you run the risk of losing readers and followers.

Keep Your Content Interesting
You want to keep your readers’ attention, and hopefully get them to share your blog entries via email and social networks. The best way to do this is to keep your content fresh, interesting and relevant. Stay on top of news stories and social media trends that relate to your blog, and create a buzz with your entries.

Guest Blog Often
Writing a guest blog on someone else’s blog is a great way to get readers and followers that you might not normally have access too. Guest blog as often as possible, and invite other bloggers to post guest blogs on your site as well.

Link, Link, and Link Again
One of the most basic tricks of SEO writing is to create links. Link your blog text to content in your website or online product descriptions, and you’ll find that people are making the leap from one to the other.

Create a Series
Keep people wanting more by creating a series blog. If you have a lot of information on a particular topic or product, don’t give it all up at once. The promise of more is often enough to get people to hit the “follow” button.

Titles Matter
Remember, the whole point to SEO writing and blogging is to capture (and hopefully keep) people’s attention. Catchy blog titles are important, because this is literally your opening line. You want to create snappy and witty titles that people will want to share, remember, and Tweet about.

Do you want to be a Blogger?

Then it’s time to pay attention… because I’m about to unleash the most EPIC list of blogging tips. Of. All. Time.

** Disclaimer: I cringe at the word EPIC like an incoming root canal — but I couldn’t find a better word to describe my legendary list.

Personally, I started blogging by accident. It was never my intention for it to become my main source of income.

And yes, I learned a lot of things along the way — the hard way — by full-on trial & error.

Epic mistakes & epic fails included.

And you know what?… I wouldn’t change a thing about how I got to where I am today.

Trust me, I definitely learned more from my failures than from my successes.

Nevertheless, I hope that by sharing these tips about blogging (from some of the smartest minds in the blogging game) I can help you get a leg up on the competition — and hopefully not fail as often as I did!

Behold: the EPIC Blogging Tips List

11 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started My First Blog

by Neil Patel

I listed this 1st because every blogger — new & old — needs to read it. If you read no other blog post, then read this one! Neil gives a complete run down of everything a blogger needs to know.

– Tweet This –

How to Write 100 Blog Articles in Under 5 Hours

by Marcus Sheridan

Marcus tells the story of a simple blogging exercise Kirk Drake did that generated over $1,000,000 in sales! You have to read this!

– Tweet This –

Why Bloggers Fail

by Derek Halpern

There are more than 164 million blogs — most of which get less than 1,000 visitors a month. That means most blogs are, for lack of a better word, failures. Find out why & what to do about it in this post.

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How to Create Winning Headlines in 9 Simple Steps

by Crazy Egg

Headlines are probably the single most important component of your blog. Without good headlines, you can’t catch the attention of busy readers. Here are 9 simple ways to create winning headlines!

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How to Make Your Blog Mobile-Friendly

by Ian Cleary (via Social Media Examiner)

In 2012, mobile users spent 63% more time accessing mobile websites & apps — and this is set to increase this year.  And next year.  And the year after that. In this article Ian discusses (1) the importance of mobile for your blog and (2) the different options available to optimize your blog for mobile devices.

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How to Find Popular Topics for Your Business to Blog About

by Kristi Hines

One of the biggest questions businesses have about blogging is what they should blog about. Find out in this article how to find topics for your blog.

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5 Tools For a More Interactive Blog

by Ian Cleary

Here are 5 tools for a more interactive blog that you should consider.

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7 Secrets to Writing Top-Notch Blog Posts About Boring Topics

by Heidi Cohen

In this post, Heidi reveals 7 secrets to help you write content on boring topics — and turn your blog posts into reader magnets.

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21 Critical Tasks to Perform as Soon as You Start a Blog

by Blog Tyrant

Some people think that when they start a blog things take off as soon they publish the 1st post — traffic flows in, readers start handing over their emails, and your fame & wealth skyrockets. Unfortunately that’s not quite how it works.

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2 Ways to Add Urgency to Your Headlines Right now

by CopyBot

Really short blog post — but it has some super powerful info on headlines that you shouldn’t miss out on.

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Why You Should Create Content With a Hook

by Andrew Davis

If you’re creating valuable content for your target audience — and you’re sticking to a format — then you have to have a hook. A format gives your content structure — a hook gives it character.

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Calculate Your Blogging ROI in 9 Steps

by Jay Baer

Is your blog costing you money or making you money? Find out via these 9 easy-to-follow steps.

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Why Your Business Blog Should Target Keywords that Make Money, Not Traffic

by Marcus Sheridan

Are you targeting keywords that get you traffic? Or are you targeting keywords that make you money? Find out the difference in this post by the Sales Lion.

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4 Steps to Better Blogging Time Management

by Blogging With Amy

Blogging can be a full time job — which can lead to burn out. But not if you learn how to manage your time wisely.

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How Brands Can Avoid Being Sued Over Content

by Contently

We’re in a “Sue Happy” world these days. Bloggers need to be certain to avoid the pitfalls of being sued over content.

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If You’re Struggling to get Blog Readers Read This

by Social Triggers

If you’re having a rough time getting people to read your blog, then you need to read this article.  Or you can continue wasting your precious time.  Up to you.

– Tweet This –

When Your Company Blog is Striking Out

by Marketo

Blogging is one of the best ways to connect with existing & prospective customers. So what happens when no one is interested in the company blog? What if you’re spending time writing posts, but no one is reading?

– Tweet This –

25 Tactics to Promote Your Blog via Facebook & Twitter

by Heidi Cohen

Besides writing, promoting your blog is the most important part of blogging. Without getting the word out, your content will never reach more readers. To this end, you should be leveraging Facebook & Twitter to boost your blog traffic.

– Tweet This –

10 Ways to Create High Converting Headlines

by Quick Sprout

Want to boost your conversions? Then start with your blog headlines. Neil Patel of Quick Sprout shows you 10 proven ways to do this in this post.

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Can Blogs Still Attract Huge Comment Counts?

by Blog Tyrant

One way to measure whether people are enjoying your content is to count comments. But today in our fast-paced social media era, people are commenting less & liking & sharing more. So how do you get more comments? Find out in this blog post.

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How to Write Great Content (even if You Suck at Copy) 

by BlogCast FM

Writing a blog takes tons of time (I personally spend an entire day on each post!). You have to find images, craft headlines, research keywords, do SEO, etc. etc. And sometimes you end up with a boring blog post anyway. Here’s how you avoid this.

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Quit Treating Your Blog Readers Like Second Class Chumps

by Danny Brown

Content is King. This is the rallying cry of many bloggers — and for the most part, it’s true. After all, without content, you have no readers. But what good is content when it’s surrounded by craptastic design?

– Tweet This –

How to Use an Editorial Calendar with Your Blog

by Ian Cleary

Without a blog editorial calendar, you’ll find it difficult to deliver consistent, varied content that’s relevant to your audience.  You’ll also struggle to sell your products or services — as you need to plan content to sync with your product launches, sales, etc.

– Tweet This –

3 Steps to Turn Your Blog Subscribers Into Customers

by Unbounce

It’s safe to say that most of you blog to make money, right? Then you’re going to love this blogpost. The folks at Unbounce show you 3 steps to turn your blog subscribers into paying customers.

– Tweet This –

Ten Things To Do Outside Of Blogging To Help Grow Your Blog

by Leslie Samuel

Just because your blog is online doesn’t mean you should only promote it online. In this post, Leslie offers some great (and unconventional) tips on how to spread the word about your blog.

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I Triple Dog Dare You!

These are some seriously deep blogposts, my friends — with tens of thousands of dollars worth of advice.

But only if you take action on them.

So today I challenge you to:

1. go read each of these blog posts
2. take one point of action from each
3. execute this point of action with your blog

Do this & I promise you will set yourself apart from your competition.

And one more thing…

Be sure to share this post with your closest colleagues —  so they can start crushing it too.

Readers want to be told what to read/listen to/download first. There’s too much information out there to take it all in at once, and The Atlantic – along with most other sites – tries to provide its audience with the freshest content in the (supposedly) most accessible places. That said, Thompson and his analytics team found that the majority of readers aren’t clicking on that content; they’re clicking on the content that’s hidden all the way at the bottom of the page, but under a very specific headline: Most Popular.

An interesting study conducted by two sociologists showed that people chose to download and listen to songs that were classified as “Most Popular,” even if they weren’t actually the most popular downloads of the time. Thompson triggered a realization for me: people want to consume content that others are consuming. This might not be the best content, but they trust that it will be worthwhile because it’s popular. We trust the opinions of our peers over the opinion of the site hosting the content.

I don’t always trust sites to give me what they believe is their top content; of course they think it’s great — they wrote it. Of course an artist thinks his music downloads are the best — he created them. Most Popular lists are the most community-based way to organize the content on the Internet, and that’s why people flock towards them. Most Popular lists do have a flaw, though. According to Thompson, these lists can be fixed effortlessly. The consequence of this is that readers are tricked into consuming and “liking” things that they might not have liked or found useful if not for a number 1 or 2 next to the title.

The solution:  Human curation. We need to provide readers with lists and collections of content that are popular within a certain field because they are genuinely popular to those who know about or are interested in that field. Most Popular lists on websites are generated by algorithms, making them extremely easy to game (by clicking the same content repeatedly, for instance) which in turn leads readers to believe they’ve found good content when they oftentimes haven’t. It’s the job of the curator, as a human, to let other humans know what they (the curator) are finding to be the best pieces of content on a topic — as someone who knows about a specific subject or interest.

If news sites and other content providers paired up with expert curators to create lists of content that would be popular among those with the authority to judge, then the most valuable content will naturally become the most popular content. Combining the power of fellow readers’ and curators’ opinions with the positive impact which rankings of popularity have on content consumption is the key to create an environment where the most popular content is also the best content. In that place, everyone wins!

This post has been republished with permission. View original article.

Even though Google may start to crack down on the process since everyone is trying to take advantage of the link building, there are still plenty of beneficial and legitimate ways for you to gain quality backlinks and guest blog on other sites.

We have listed these methods below.

Guest Blogging with Personal Friends and Bloggers

The best way to guest blog is through your own network of sites and blogs. There are so many sites out there that have junk content and link building methods. Knowing who you are writing content for and how you are going gain links back to your site is a crucial process to finding success. Of all the options you have for guest blogging, this is probably your best solution. If you are submitting content to a quality site, they should also set you up with a full author bio section at the end of the post like the one below.

Using Private Blog Networks

Google continually comes out with new rules and updates for their search rankings algorithm and one of them was to shut down and wipe out most of the content farms and blog networks. Some of these sites still exist as they have been able to follow the guidelines of Google and continue to produce only legitimate links and content. SEOContentNetwork.com is one of these networks that continues to be one of the last remaining link building and guest blogging networks that actually works. As mentioned, the secret to their success and the users of their site is that they continually monitor all sites and content to make sure they are within Google’s guidelines.

Outsource the Whole Process

Another alternative solution you have for building out content and gaining links through guest blogging is to completely outsource the process. Depending on what service you use, this can add up in price and may also get your site in more trouble than it’s worth. Guest blogging can be a shady business tactic if you aren’t focusing on the creation of quality content, using the right anchor text for your backlinks and only providing content on quality sites that match the same topic and interest of your main site. Be sure to put all of these factors in your decision making process if you are looking at doing any outsourcing. Sites like elance and indeed will help you find individuals or companies who provide these services, but it’s up to you to look at their past jobs and references to see what type of work they are providing.

At the end of the day guest blogging for the sole purpose of link building is still a highly effective and profitable business. As long as you follow these tips and stay within the terms and conditions put in place by Google, you shouldn’t have any problems.

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I’m all for review blogs.  I think they’re great.  I think if you’re a consumer and you need to know about a product, a blog can tell you what you need to know.  I think if you’re a company and you’re trying to get your product out there, a blog can do that for you in a really affordable and accessible way.  Basically, I think review blogs are awesome, overlooked, and underused.  Here’s how to make your review blog stand out among the bloggers and to other companies.

Sadly, I’ve had many a blogger agree to review a product and then never review it.  They never answer their email.  They never respond to my inquiries about where they are or where their blog review is…  It’s like being stood up on a date.  This isn’t funny. And like a teenage boy with a broken heart who won’t be asking for a second date, the business won’t be sending out or asking you to review another product. If you say you’re going to do something, be ethical and do it.  Agreeing to review a product, not doing so, then keeping the product and not returning it isn’t right. And it’s just not nice.

Speaking of nice…

Remember what mom use to say?  If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.

Sometimes you’ll get a product to review and you won’t like the product.  That’s fine.  You can choose not to write about it.  Notify the company, be honest in your opinion, and offer to mail the product back.  They’ll find someone else who can say something positive about it, because remember: just because you don’t see the value in something doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value.  For example, maybe the product is more age specific than you originally thought and your child is too old/too young.  It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad product.

It isn’t hard, but it takes commitment, consistency, and, well, work.  Not everyone is cut out for it.  And that’s okay.  But if you enjoy doing it and you’re going to do it, you should strive to do it well.  Do it right.

Let’s be honest. Good writing matters. But there are a few simple ideas any one can learn to dramatically improve the quality of their blog posts. Let’s take a look at a few tricks of the trade that are explored in detail in a new book I’ve co-authored with Stanford Smith called Born to Blog:

Read it out loud

“I feel like you’re talking to me.”

That’s common feedback I receive about my books and blog posts. If you can’t write, you can still talk, right? I suggest that you literally read your blog posts aloud before publishing. If something does not roll off the tongue in a natural and conversational way, change it.

Cut, cut, cut

The biggest problem I see in the guest posts I receive is that they are far too wordy. Eliminate every word and sentence that does not move the story along. If your post is more than 1,000 words that is a sure danger sign.

Write upside down

In school and at work, we are taught to write linearly — a beginning, a middle and an end. That usually does not work in the blogging world because people don’t have the patience to wait for your conclusion. Start with the conclusion and then explain it. I see too many posts that do not get to the guts of the issue until you are one-third down the page.

The beginning matters

Spend time creating an accurate, interesting headline. If your headline does not compel people to “click,” they will never even get to the blog post. Create an opening sentence that grabs people by the throat and makes them read what you have to say.

Get another view

Do you have a close friend or family member who can write? Why not at least run posts by them for a few weeks to help you improve?

Don’t just write, re-write

Here’s a simple but magical trick I’ve learned to be a better writer. Let it sit a few days.

I don’t know how or why, but I might think something is really great, yet when I return to it after a few days I see so many obvious ways it can be improved.

I rarely “crank out” a blog post. They usually gestate a few days, sometimes even a few weeks.

This a gentle art, though. You can’t let it sit there until it is “perfect” because that will never happen. At the end of the day, the most important characterstic of a successful blogger is having the courage to push that publish button!

Get help

I do not enjoy auto mechanics. So I hire a professional who can get the job done right at a fraction of the cost and time compared to me trying to hack through a repair.

If you don’t enjoy writing, you’re going to suck at blogging. But maybe you still have a desire or a legitimate business reason to blog. I think it is a perfectly viable option to hire a professional writer to help you. Provide a purpose statement for a blog post and 3-4 key bullet points and let a professional work their magic.

Start

You cannot become a great blog writer in one day, in one week, or one month. It takes experience and practice. You will get better, faster, and more effective over time as you find “your voice,” get feedback from your community, and figure out your own system. Starting is the hardest part, but to become a competent writer, there is no choice!

I’m 100 percent convinced that almost anybody can be a successful blogger with the right framework, dedication and attitude. I hope these insider tricks help and that you take the leap.

What tips and tricks would you add to help a beginner blogger?

Mark Schaefer is a educator and marketing consultant specializing in social media workshops. He blogs at {grow} and is the author of several best-selling markting books including Return On Influence.

From beauty bloggers pushing for full size samples to review, only to sell them on eBay instead, or a travel blogger making demands on a press trip, blogging occasionally attracts those with the ulterior motives.

The ‘PR friendly’ label in particular can attract bloggers looking to make a quick buck or score a new TV/car/handheld blender, but businesses and marketers shouldn’t shy away from this title, as PR friendly bloggers could help your brand in more ways than one.

They’ll Help Boost Your Traffic

Study Abroad programme: Theoretical & social fashion studies (Photo credit: London College of Fashion short courses)

The first and most obvious asset to brands working with bloggers is that your traffic will go up. If PR friendly bloggers are writing about you then keep an eye on your stats and you’ll see those figures rise. Aside from the benefits of a blogger naturally linking to your site, one initial link could lead to their readers clicking through to find out more about you.

Make Sales

As well as traffic you could also convert visits into sales by choosing the right PR friendly bloggers to work with. Look for bloggers who already mention your brand with enthusiasm, or who like your competitors – you could convert them and their readers to your own product or service.

If you’ve sent a product to a blogger to review, consider giving them a discount code to share with their readers. A unique code will make the blogger feel like a bigger part of the transaction, and will give you a clear way of seeing how many readers convert to customers.

It’s (Almost) Free PR

Remember that age-old adage, ‘you don’t get something for nothing’? The same applies here, but at a fraction of the price it would cost to outsource your PR efforts.

Product reviews are the bread and butter of many PR friendly bloggers and in exchange for keeping the product they road test, you’ll get an honest, insightful post with commentary, photos and even videos and/or illustrations. Just like any other profession, bloggers put a lot of time and effort into their work and the end result could be a glowing recommendation for your product or brand.

Such recommendations are becoming increasingly priceless as blogs and social media are regularly cited as factors in decision making, particularly for women, when shopping online.

Blog Event #2 (Madara’s initiative) *3 (Photo credit: Umbrovskis.com)

You’ll Widen Your Audience

Sharing is caring, and engaging with bloggers through product reviews, inviting them to events or chatting with them on social media will help to widen your audience.

Working with the right PR friendly blogger/s can bring your product or service to a new audience and gives you the opportunity to see what people are saying about your brand. Make the effort to get involved with the online community and you’ll be rewarded.

So how do you pick the right blogger to work with? Go with your gut, do your research and don’t make hasty decisions.

Run their social media profiles through fake account checkers, spend time reading their blog and previous product reviews and brand collaborations they’ve published and follow them on Twitter. Create a platform for discussion about how you might work together and, if you feel comfortable, ask them for suggestions – they may just have the perfect campaign idea your team hasn’t thought of.

If you don’t want to approach bloggers directly there are numerous engagement platforms who will do the hard work for you, such as UK based Blogging Edge or stateside Social Fabric. Companies like these can identify key online influencers and have already formed relationships with PR friendly bloggers looking to work with brands.

Have you worked with PR friendly bloggers before? Share your experiences, or lack of, in the comments below.

Perhaps you are one of them.

If so, the idea of writing a blog post might sound like the most miserable self-promotional task you could undertake on behalf of your small business.

I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be drudgery.

Blogging for business – even if you hate writing or consider yourself to be a terrible writer – isn’t terribly difficult. (What is hard is writing really great content that generates conversions and grows your business substantially… but that’s what a content writing service is for.)

Ready to get started? Here’s how anyone can write a blog post in 6 easy steps:

#1 Set Up a Blog

Go to WordPress.com and get a free blog. WordPress is a totally free platform, intuitively designed, and easy to use. I’m a big WP fan because – should your blog take off and you decide to put a bigger engine under the hood – switching over to WordPress’s paid platform is a breeze.

#2 Create Your Questions

I’m also a big fan of Marcus Sheridan’s approach to blogging. Sheridan advises first-time and intimidated bloggers to write down every question a prospect or customer has ever asked you. You now have a list of blog topics.

#3 Answer the Questions By Blogging

The answers to these questions make for great initial blog posts and should provide you with enough steam to build your confidence as a blogger. Aim for 250-300 words, which is about three-quarters to one page of content when using plenty of line breaks.

Don’t over think it. Endless revisions will kill your drive for blogging in no time. Set a timer and allow yourself just 25 minutes to write a blog post. Then, allow yourself another 5 minutes to edit and proofread it.

#4 Add Pictures & Video

You know what helps mitigate mediocre writing? Great visual content. It’s also free and easy to find. Tom Ewer lists four image search engines for this purpose. Make sure you stick a ‘Creative Common’s’ filter on your search so you don’t end up accidentally stealing someone else’s content.

#5 Understand How SEO Works

The whole point of this blog post is to keep it simple. But, I would encourage you to learn at least the very basics of SEO. The Blog Tyrant has a great post that explains this stuff in very simple terms. Having a little SEO-awareness won’t hurt you!

#6 Respond to Comments

Once you’ve published a few blog posts, you may start getting some comments or other interaction. Your writing may not be great, but you can make up for that with friendliness and dialogue. Be sure to engage with those who take the time to comment on your blog!

Interested in hiring a writing service? If so, know the difference between various writing services, what they cost, and what you get for your money.

What is a blog?

First off, let’s explore what a blog actually is and how it’s part of the bigger picture. A blog, abbreviated for web+log, is typically an informational section of your website that allows for short content for frequent distribution. Meaning, it’s less words than heavy-duty whitepaper and it’s more informative than a Tweet. Blogs are also formatted fairly consistently with ability to filter through them with categories or tags that essential build a library of reference for the website visitors. They are also written in a unique way as people tend to read, or should I say scan, online differently than print. Bullet points, numerical ordering, and short paragraphs are more effective than long prose.

Why do website visitors value blogs?

Depending on the objective of the blog, visitors can get a lot out of it. Some companies use blogs less as a sales tool and more as a personality disseminator. In other words, it’s a way for employees to showcase their quirky attitudes or display their friendly faces. This is sometimes a much-needed human touch, instead of the flat lines, drop shadows, and icons that overtake the online experience. A blog can also be a great continuous stream of education.

The most successful blogs strive to add value, meaning educate or solve a problem, with every blog post that gets published. It’s also beneficial because the post can be released in a timely matter. Getting a press release out into the media can be a much more daunting task then publishing a quick post announcing the release of a new product or the hiring of a new sales person.

Why do search engines value blogs?

Search engines value blogs because they hold content at the center of everything. The search engine ranking algorithms will always select content that adds value to the person doing the search over a stale site that has none. After all, if Google and Big return bad results and irrelevant content, then people will stop using them. Additionally, blogs are a great way to encourage links back to the website. If the blog post is valuable to the visitor, they will in many cases share that link with their social networks. This concept of creating content to be shared by users is called “Link Baiting” and helps dramatically increase a website’s search engine ranking. After all, every link pointing to your website counts as a vote, and like politics the more votes more popular you’ll be perceived.

How does blogging increase sales?

Higher ranking in the search engines directly correlates to more traffic flowing to a website. If that traffic is targeted correctly, then more traffic typically means more leads and more customers. It’s human nature that if you solve a problem for somebody, they will remember you and reciprocate. This applies directly to blogging as the more visitors that get helped; the more they will value helping company’s brand.

In a recent study, the 2012 State of Inbound Marketing by HubSpot, it was discovered that 92% of companies that responded acquired a customer through their blog if they posted multiple times per day. The numbers are still impressive for those that post daily at 78%, 2-3 times per week at 70%, and weekly at 66%. This data along with some other metrics in their report shows a direct correlation between blogging and customer acquisition. Blogging was recorded as the most effective lead generation category as being “Below Average Cost Per Lead.”

Summary and Next Steps

Blogging, or publishing web content on a regular basis, can be an effective tool for adding additional value to prospects and customers. It provides for a strong online foundation that encourages other websites to link to the posts and for visitors to share them on social networks. It’s been found that blogging can increase traffic significantly and be another avenue to generate leads. If you’re looking to get started, then carve out an area of your site today and start writing. Good luck!

Originally posted here on USSCO Speaks blog.

If you care at all about the quality of the writing on your blog — and you should — then perhaps the single greatest thing you can do to improve your posts is this: Read it again. Just read your post one more time before you set it loose onto the Internet.

The quickest way to lower the quality of a blog post is to write it from start to finish and then click the Publish button without a second thought.

If you already collaborate with multiple writers and editors, this probably seems elementary. And it is. But I’ve seen it time and time again (and you probably have, too): Blog posts riddled with grammatical problems, typos and formatting errors that are impossible to miss by anyone who reads the article. The only conclusion is that the person who published the article didn’t read it.

I’m not talking about skimming here, either. When you skim, you’re more likely to see what you meant to write and not what you really wrote. You need to read carefully, as you hope your blog readers do.

Do what you can to read it with fresh eyes: Print it out. Read it aloud. Read it backward. Or, to get truly fresh eyes on it, have someone else read it.

If this sounds more like proofreading than editing, you’re right. Simply re-reading a post and fixing the errors you find will bring your work to a basic level of quality. It makes no sense to spend time on the post’s structural organization and artistic expression — the domain of editing — if your work doesn’t meet a minimum level of quality, meaning accurate information, correct spelling, consistent formatting, proper punctuation and so on.

But when you re-read a post, if you take your time and read carefully, you’ll find more problems than just the mechanical errors. Whether it’s a cliché you can reword, a phrase that could be more concise or a missing transition between paragraphs, you’ll see problems — not just errors — that you’ll want to fix.

And this is where editing starts. So read it again.

Image credit: CargoCollective.com

1. Those who will buy from you

These are the people who may visit your business, buy your products, or hire you for a service. Before that, they may check out your blog to learn more about the people behind the business, get a sense of how you operate, and see if you really know your stuff.

Once they’re fans, customers or clients, people keep visiting your blog to see your latest news, stay in relationship with you, and get your expert tips.

2. Those who will refer you

There are people in your network who may never be a customer or client, but who may send you a steady stream of referrals or leads. They may not be in the market for what you offer, or they may be do-it-yourselfers who can succeed just by trying your tips on their own.

Having you as a resource helps them bring value to their own network. They may visit your blog to find useful content to share on social media, or just to understand your business better so they can refer to you with confidence. Smart networkers will also want to keep up with your latest news and stay in relationship with you.

Journalists and media producers are an extension of your network, and your blog can show them you are an expert source for quotes, interviews or articles about your specialty area.

Luckily, the same types of blog posts work for both audiences. The following five business blogging success tips will give each audience what they’re looking for, whether it’s for themselves or someone else.

1. Be consistent – Whether you blog once a week or once a month, show your blog visitors that they can depend on you for new content on a regular basis. Otherwise, why would they keep coming back or send anyone else?
2. Be focused – Along with being consistent about when you post, be consistent with what you post. Every post should support what you want to be known for as a business.
3. Be clear – Spell out acronyms, eliminate any jargon, and explain things for the beginner. This is more welcoming for a first-time visitor, return visitors will appreciate (and may need) the refresher, and the media can see how you talk about your topic.
4. Be careful – If a prospective customer, referral source, journalist or producer follows a link on social media and finds a post with spelling errors or formatting problems, you’ve lost an opportunity to make a good impression. Proofread each blog post before publishing.
5. Be passionate – What do you love about your business? Why do you care whether people follow your advice? How can (and have) you changed people’s lives and businesses? Tap into that passion and let others feel it, too. Be excited about your new blog post and tell the world where to find it. Your passion will attract people back to your blog, and make them feel good about sharing it with others.

Some of your blog readers will never be in a position to hire you, but they’re still important to your business. When you share valuable expertise, take readers behind the scenes of your business, and build a relationship through consistent attention, you will attract both customers and referrals.

Are you constantly looking for ways to make your business more interesting to the general public? Sure it’s interesting to you, but when you talk with people at a networking event and tell them what you do for a living, do their eyes gloss over?

That can be a problem as you write the blog that you need to market your business (and you do need that blog).

Let’s take an example most of us are familiar with. Remember John Candy’s character, Del Griffith, in Planes, Trains and Automobiles? The eternal optimist and shower curtain ring salesman? Shower curtain rings seem like the very definition of an item you don’t think about unless you need to toss some in your shopping cart.

Here’s how to take a mundane topic and make it interesting:

• Find the right angle. As a journalist, I can tell you that this part is crucial. Here are some ideas off the top of my head for posts: How did we arrive at the modern shower curtain rod and ring system? What are the advantages of a “good” shower curtain ring? What makes them worth the investment? Where are most rings produced? Can rings accentuate the beautiful design of your bathroom? What are some other, non-traditional uses for shower curtain rings?
• Listen to your audience. What kind of posts on the subject matter seem to get a lot of traffic? What kinds of questions is your audience asking in other places? Pay attention to the conversation, and shape your content around the best fit conversations. Here are a few questions about shower curtain rings being asked on Yahoo! Answers right now: What can I put on my shower curtain rod to make my rings slide smoother? Any ideas for creative, rustic bathroom shower curtain rings? How can you repair broken shower ring holes in a plastic shower curtain? These are the things that your built in audience wants to know. You could also check other social networks and forums for more questions.
• Find the bigger story. If you’re going to write a blog focusing on shower curtain rings, you’ll probably want to spend a decent amount of time talking about bathroom redesign. This will allow you to focus on a broader subject that’s more likely to produce more worthwhile ideas, and keep your audience interested. You can also write about all of the things you’ll need to buy in the moving process.
• Find your writing voice. Ultimately you need to learn how to write like you talk. Not everything needs to be a hard sell. Picture yourself explaining these topics to a friend over coffee. How would you do it? What kind of word choice would you use? This is exactly how you should write it.

If Del Griffith had a website and a blog that he could direct people to, he may not have pissed Steve Martin’s character off so much. That hellish trip could have been just a little easier. With a little effort, you can create the type of content that will draw readers in as well.

Remember, the trick is to be useful and provide value. Not everything needs to be a hard sell. With a little effort, you can take any subject and make it just a little more interesting.

The paradox is that your readers want knowledge. They want to know about your industry. They just don’t want to hear it from the guy who’s writing from high up on his perch.

So what does this mean for you?

First, you need to stay up on your industry knowledge. There’s no sin in being smart. You need to keep reading all those magazine articles, books and blogs that give you the knowledge you need to stay ahead. You need to keep talking shop with others in your industry. These are your sources to learn.

Next, put your stamp on it. Go ahead and give readers the information they need to know, but do it with a little spunk and personality. I see a lot of aspiring bloggers giving the same tips and tricks as everybody else in the industry. The fact they’ve done their research is evident. However, there’s nothing there that is definitively them.

You can easily get around this by offering your opinion. Or connecting two ideas or subjects that aren’t obviously similar on the surface. Or working a little harder to find resourceful blog ideas that go into a bit of depth and explanation.

Whatever you do, before you hit publish, think for a couple minutes about who you are talking to.

You have to know your audience to understand how to relate.

If you fail at this one simple step, it looks bad. Check that. It can cause your message to tank. It can make you look like the snob mentioned at the beginning of this post.

Think about a couple things:

• Who are you writing for?
• Are they a bit more removed from your industry?
• What’s their education level?
• Is your customer base mainly comprised of men or women?

All these things will impact how you talk with them. Think about it this way. You wouldn’t walk up to someone at a networking event, shove your card in their hands, pitch them and walk away. Or if you would, you’re probably not going to get much business.

You have to learn how to relate.

When it comes to content marketing, a lot of people are talking about the necessity of providing value, but we need to break it down one step further.

That value needs to be in a package your readers can unwrap. Otherwise it’s useless.

Unless you work in the industry, you probably don’t know enough about medical supplies, insurance, mortgages, taxes or the law to keep up with a professional in any of these industries who wants to talk shop. The same is true for countless other professions.

It’s on the professional to uncomplicate things for their readers and make it a bit more simple.

As you return to writing your own posts, I leave you with this: don’t make your readers hate you. Don’t disregard your audience. It’s bad for business.

What do you do to relate to your audience?

They are regarded as best for online businesses and for bloggers since they are highly converting, are very helpful in improving your authority and website presence.They not only help to increase your earning but also helps to build better community and readership.

Well there are many different creative ways to increase website visitors, but if you want continuous flow of traffic then I will suggest you to try my personal tips. I have personally tested them and trust me, they help to improve your website’s trust, authority and presence.

4 Tips To Increase Organic Traffic

If you want to build a successful online business, want to create an authority website or if you want to increase online presence, then you will need sustainable visitors.

And the best way to get consistent visitors & readers is organic search results. So below we will discuss 4 simple and easy to follow steps which will help you directly improve your organic search traffic and will help you increase page views, visitors, impressions and sales.

Use Long Tail Keywords To Increase Organic Traffic

If you are planning to write SEO article which could rank good on SERP then you will need to use and implement LSI & long tail keywords in your post. Actually Long tail keywords are combination of words or you can say they are phrases with minimum competition.

They are also regarded as low hanging fruits and they are easy to rank since less number of website try to rank for them. In order to find long tail keywords you can use Google Adwords keyword suggestion tool or you can even consider using premium research tool like Longtialpro, Market samurai and others. But if you want to go with free, then their is nothing better than keyword tool by Google.

It will help you find related key phrases, their global and local search volume and will also tell you the competition level (based on Adwords ads and not on searches).

• Use the targeted phrase as the headline.
• Use it within first and last paragraph of your article.
• Use the related search terms to create subheadings.
• Use the keyword for creating inbound and outbound link.
• Also use your phrase as the alternate text for your image.

For more information regarding basic and advanced keyword research you can check out few related articles.

• What is long tail keyword?
• How to find LSI keywords?
• Long-Tail Keyword Research on Deadlines

Focus On Social Media

Google now focus more on social media, social presence, social shares and user experience than onpage and off page SEO. So make sure to be social and to make your website social. The best way is to add social buttons to your individual posts and pages. If you are using wordpress then their are hundreds of free plugin to help you.

My personal favorite are digg digg floating bar and flare social buttons. They both are very attractive and easy to setup. Additionally they also allow you to link your social profiles and then automatically post updates for you. A similar service is provided by jet pack socialize addon. It automatically shares you new post to tumble, twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Build Natural Backlinks

Quality backlinks are always important when you try to increase organic traffic to your website. They act as extra boost and helps to increase domain authority and your page authority. Now as we know that domain authority is really important factor when you try to rank for some competitive keywords, so natural backlinks are.

Tips to build natural backlinks to your website.

• Creating link bait such as quality content.
• Using or creating inforgraphics.
• Press release so as to create backlinks from news and educational websites.
• Creating roundup of websites, tips, tutorials.
• Posting latest news and information.

And their are so many different ways.

Consistent Blog Post Updates

Google and other search engines likes those website or blogs who frequently add latest articles and update their older posts. When we frequently update our blog, it shows search engines that we are really trying out level best to help our readers and visitors.

It also proves that we are trying our level best to become authority in our niche or concerned topic and so Google favors and rank those blogs. It also helps to keep the quality readers and helps to increase the subscribers. Since they now get consistent updates with more information, more tips and tricks they love to stick to your website.

So these were four easy to follow tips which can surely help you increase organic traffic to your website. If you have any suggestions or comments then please share it in comment area.

Image credit goes to link assistant.

In recent times, guest posting on blogs has become a popular and effective marketing technique; it helps build links, promote your brand and thus increase sales. However, as this strategy is being used extensively, bloggers are becoming more and more wary of requests from individuals for guest posting.

In fact, guest posting has become a rather daunting process; an uphill battle, through and through.

However, if you follow the best practices listed below, you’ll find it easier to get access to quality guest posting opportunities:

Research Well

Do not rush to send a request email to a blogger; over-eagerness displays a lack genuine interest, which is a big turn-off for any blog-owner.

First, do proper research on the blog you’re targeting. Check how many guest posts have been accepted in the past to assess if they actually even publish any guest’s posts. Read older posts, as many as possible, and identify the nature of topics written upon, the writing style that is favored, what kind of posts get good responses, so on and so forth.

Pay attention to the small details, for that alone can distinguish you from other guest-blogging aspirants. Once you have done your research, you can write a guest post that is most suited to that particular blog, thereby increasing the chances of your post being accepted and published.

Zero In On The Topic

Once you have studied the blog you want to contribute to, finalize a topic based on your observations of their content focus. There are some requisite qualities, which can lend your writing much appeal.

Several blog owners prefer that you send them a pitch first. So, come up with a catchy, funny and striking title for your post, and write an engaging synopsis that covers everything you will be focusing on. Make sure you go through the existing content on the blog to find a topic that has not yet been covered and write on that.

Write A Quality Post

For the article body, make your writing is detailed yet precise, witty yet purposeful, interesting yet informative. It’s hard to say no to engaging content, so in addition to having a great idea for a guest post, ensure that the language you use in your post commands your readers’ attention. Having done that, look for pictures to compliment the text; flickr, freedigitalphotos.net, stock.xchng, etc. can prove to be good sources for copyright free images.

Finally, assemble your post and begin the editing process. Editing here would not involve simple proof-reading, but also changes that would align the post with the writing conventions that the blog seems to follow.

Once you have your guest post drafted and ready to send, the most grueling part of the exercise is over.

Create An Effective Pitch

The next step is to present your post to the blog owner – this has to be done tactfully as well as tastefully.

Write an email that is personalized, and obviously addressed to the blog-owner. However, refrain from seeming over-familiar or a little too enthusiastic.

Your e-mail should reflect the fact that you have read the blog, and understand what it’s about. Making an insightful comment about a published post is always a good way to start. Attach your post, or send in your pitch, based on the guidelines of the blog you are approaching.

In case the blog doesn’t have any guidelines in place, you could simply provide some URLs of your published posts as samples and politely ask the owner if they would consider having a look at your guest post topic suggestions.

You can send up to two follow-up mails on your initial offer. If you still don’t hear from the blog owner, retract your offer and move on.

The End Result

If, after all these efforts, your post gets published, make sure it does well. The more traffic, comments and social shares the post invites, the more likely the owner is to publish your guest posts in future.

In fact you can also use posts that receive good social traction as work samples to show to other blog owners and increase your pitch acceptance rate.

Thus, promote the post through all your social media accounts and ask friends and family to do the same. Respond to comments and make it a discussion rather than a bland self-serving blog post.

If your post gets a substantial amount of attention, you can then hope for the owner to give you more opportunities to write in the future. Remember, the end result is dependent on you more than anything else.

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

1)  Not Responding Quick Enough

Your possible content partners get hundreds of e-mails a week asking them to partner up.  They receive a lot of quality content but also have to weed through a lot of junk to get to that quality content.  If they are writing you back, give them the common courtesy of a quick response!  Waiting a week to respond is not helpful to you or them–you won’t get your content posted fast enough, and they will be waiting on you to get their editorial schedule together.  You don’t have to immediately respond with an article ready to go, but you should let them know when to expect your content and stick to the deadline you set.  If you come through with content quickly and in the time frame you set, you may also be landing a content partner that will want to work with you in the future.

2)  Too Many Paid Posts

Paid posts are an ever controversial issue in the world of SEO.  Some people set a paid posts budget for themselves each month and work within this frame.  While paying for posts does secure posts for the month, they could actually be working against your traffic ranking rather than for it.  The problem with paid posts, is they can often include lower quality content because the website will post the content no matter what.  This could cause google to see the links on the site as spam, thus labeling your links as spam.  If you decide to use paid posts, it is important to to pay only for sites that ask to be paid after you e-mail them.  It is a red flag when the website openly advertises their pay for post policy because Google is more likely to pick up on this as spam.

3)  Copy and Paste E-mails

As I said before, websites get hundreds of e-mails per week asking about content partnerships.  Copy and pasting the same message with the same guest post subjects in each e-mail you send, will not help in getting potential content partners to notice you and accept your post idea.  A great rule of thumb to stick to in coming up with pitch e-mails is to give the potential content partner a compliment specific to their site and let them know why working with you would be valuable.  In giving them a compliment, it’s a good idea to point out a specific post you enjoyed from their site and what you liked about it.  The more unique your e-mail, the more likely they will want to work with you.

4)  Cookie Cutter Post Ideas

Going along with copy and paste e-mails not working, cookie cutter post ideas also do not work.  Unique content is key and the more unique your post idea, the more likely it will be picked up.  Look through the site’s previous blog posts to see what they are missing and what posts worked best and go from there.  This is the best way to figure out what the editor will find unique.

5)  Quality not Quantity

This applies to a site’s PR.  It is best to post links on sites with a higher PR than to get your link up on as many sites as possible.  If you are worried about getting more posts to satisfy your client you can still send several pitch e-mails to posts of various PR and see who writes back, then decide who you will submit to from there.  As long as the PR is higher than zero, you know it is a quality site, but the sites with a PR of 4 or higher are what you want to strive for.

For more information visit www.clearsightstudio.com.

Long lonely hours of writing and editing, coming up with the inspiration for the headlines and sitting down to do the work while your friends are out partying. Just getting started is a challenge. What do you want to blog about? Will it work? How do I set up this WordPress technology thing.

Writers block lurks every day. It doesn’t just afflict the beginner but the best. These are some of the challenges that confront us all.

So why should you start and why persist?

Why you should start

When starting, the reasons why are sometimes nothing more than a curiosity driven by a passion for the topic. Sometimes it is the intersection and synergy of multiple motivations. Maybe leave a legacy and learn along the way.

Here are some of the reasons for blogging that I hadn’t really considered when I published for the first time.

1. Your brand awareness will grow
2. Open doors to global opportunities
3. Create business networking opportunities
4. Position you and your brand as a thought leader and expert
5. Website will rank higher in search engines
6. Learn a lot about your business and yourself
7. Build an online asset that doesn’t sleep
8. Grow as an individual and as a business
9. Provide lifestyle freedom
10. Gain access to free crowd sourced marketing

I am sure there are more but there is something for everyone. Done right it does contain fun, a possible 15 minutes of fame and more and the promise of fortune.

Achieve one of those…then it is worthwhile.

Who has the money?

In looking around it starts to become apparent that there are many ways to make money from new media (blogging). It is not a singular approach but a matrix of multiple opportunities and tactics.

Blogging has evolved rapidly because of the social web and in the past was driven by building email lists which took a lot of time. With the advent of social media their marketing and growth have been supercharged.

Global reach and influence at the speed of a tweet, a Facebook share or a viral video.

To make money from a blog in 2013 you do not have to be a Huffington Post. There are many ways to make a living out of blogging that can enhance your current business and lifestyle that are within everyone’s reach.

Here are 11 different business models in this Slideshare presentation with case studies.

How to Make Money Blogging on the Social Web “Turning your Hobby, Passion and Knowledge into Cash” from Jeff Bullas

What is the framework for success?

Here are 10 key elements you will need to succeed at your blogging.

1. Focused plan
2. Memorable branding
3. The platform you own
4. Design that works
5. Blogging and website hosting that runs 24/7
6. Creating and packaging your content
7. Grow your social networks
8. Optimise for search engines
9. Network and build promotional partnerships
10. Build an email list

Six takeaways

Need to boil it down then the here are the core takeaways.

1. Focus
2. Start
3. Publish
4. Grow your networks
5. Package your knowledge
6. Market & Promote

What about you?

How is your blogging journey? Started, stalled or are you well on your way. What have been your biggest challenges?

It is not a get rich quick scheme and if anyone that tells you it is then hold tight onto your money and run!

Look forward to your insights and stories in the comments below.

Want to learn how to create and market a successful global blog with social media?

My book – “Blogging the Smart Way – How to Create and Market a Killer Blog with Social Media” – will show you how.

It is now available to download. I show you how to create and build a blog that rocks and grow tribes, fans and followers on social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. It also includes dozens of tips to create contagious content that begs to be shared and tempts people to link to your website and blog.

I also reveal the tactics I used to grow my Twitter followers to over 149,000.

Download and read it now.

Image by Shutterstock

But the hardest part of starting a company blog is figuring out what the heck you should talk about. It would seem to make sense that if you’re blogging to boost your business, you should blog all about your business, right? Wrong.

A successful business blog isn’t all about the business, but the people that keep it in business: the customers. (Tweet this)

Interesting, engaging business blogs think about what kind of content in their niche their customers are interested in, and that’s not always the ins and outs of their business. However, it can be:

Huge Company News

While readers won’t be interested in a blog that’s only about the business writing it, businesses can still post their biggest and most exciting announcements on their blogs. Social Media Examiner recommends having at least 80% of your content focused on helping your audience. Company-related posts can include special events, sales, new products or services being offered, and fun pieces that reflect company culture. But even with company news, you want to think about how the post can be focused on the customer.

Feature Customers

What’s an even better way of letting your customers know they matter than by writing blog content for them? Writing blog content about them! Every now and then, spotlight a customer or a success story. What you should include will depend on your business, but the ideas are limitless.

Featuring customers is actually a way to get away with being more product-centric than you normally could. A post about your business’s favorite things about one of your products will come off as self-centered and too promotional. However, asking a customer their favorite things? Gold.

Industry News

This one is especially important for business-to-business companies. But even with business-to-consumer products, your company is part of a larger community that you should acknowledge. Of course, you don’t need to go promoting direct competitors, but acknowledging them, or promoting similar products and services that don’t directly compete with your own, but that appeal to the same audience. You can also provide commentary on trends or popular topics of conversation in the industry.

How-To’s and Tutorials

No one knows everything, but everyone knows something. Figure out what problems your customers are having related to your industry and solve them, or find out what questions they have and answer them. Nothing will help out your audience as much as these problem-solving posts.

Teach your customers how to get more out of your product or service. For example, if you sell fashion accessories, teach your readers how to put outfits together from top to bottom. If you provide a service, don’t worry about teaching your customers how to do your job. A lot of the time, reading the post will make them realize they don’t have the time, knowledge, etc. to do it themselves and show them that you know how to do it for them.

Storytelling

On those rare occasions that you do write a post about yourself, provide information that can’t be told elsewhere on your website. If someone wanted a list of what a certain product can do, they would go to the product’s page. Instead, provide context and provide interesting stories about your brand or a specific product or service. Why should a customer care about a certain product or service, or your business in general? As the old adage goes, ‘show, don’t tell.’

Stay tuned for even more ways to use your business blog, coming up in a few weeks! In the meantime, what do you use your company blog for? Share your strategies in the comments!

Image via jmoneyyyyyy

But there’s nothing to worry about as our blogging experts are here to share their tips for creating a blog from scratch and maintaining it building a lively and active audience.

Original Image Credit: Luca Bertolli/123RF

- Anum Hussain @anummedia

Anum Hussain is a passionate content strategist. During the day, she works at HubSpot, developing the marketing industry’s leading content on all marketing subjects. Off-the-clock, she spends her time directing MIST Boston, a nonprofit that attracts 230+ high school students to learn about faith-based morals through scholastic competitions.

“When first starting a blog, the most important thing to do is to just start writing and publishing. Many blog starters get caught up in the fear of publishing a piece with typos, a post that’s not meaty in its advice, or whatever other reason they may come up with. But when you’re first starting, you’re allowed to mess up. It’s better to experiment and fail early on to provide yourself with early learnings for future content. And by publishing more and more, you’re garnering more and more attention early on, which will help you in the long run.”

- Laura Roeder @ikr

Laura Roeder is the founder of LKR Social Media, a company that creates training courses for small businesses to learn how to leverage social media and online marketing. Our two programs are LKR Social Media Marketer and Creating Fame.

“One tip for starting a blog is keep a consistent schedule, even if it’s infrequent. When your blog has been dead for months at a time it looks like you might not be in business anymore! Instead publicly pick a schedule, publicly state it, and stick to it. Writing every other Monday and actually making it happen is much better than writing three times a week then falling off the wagon in exhaustion a few weeks in. Plus, a clear schedule will help you get your blog posts written by providing strict deadlines.”

- Mike Moran @MikeMoran

Author of the acclaimed book on Internet marketing, Do It Wrong Quickly, on the heels of the best-selling Search Engine Marketing, Inc., Mike Moran led many initiatives on IBM’s Web site for eight years, including IBM’s original search marketing strategy. Mike also serves as a senior strategist for Converseon, a leading social media consultancy based in New York City.

“People are often intimidated when they first start blogging. I often hear people tell me that they can’t think of anything interesting to say. Or that they don’t know what people want to know about. Or that they don’t have time to write. To me, there are a few simple tricks that can get you on track:

1. Pick a schedule and stick to it. If you blog “whenever you get the chance,” it will never happen. Instead, commit to once a week, once a month–whatever you decide–but treat this commitment to your readers the same way you treat a commitment to anyone else.

2. Keep a list of topics. Once you start doing it for a while, you’ll naturally think of ideas for posts. Write them down somewhere that you can grab them when you need inspiration. And don’t just write ten words–write a couple of paragraphs while it is fresh in your mind. It’s much easier to complete the post later when you need one than it is to stare at a blank screen hoping for an idea to strike.

3. Answer people’s questions. If you are an expert on something (you should be if you want to blog), even a minor expert, or a minor expert on a minor topic, you get people asking you questions all the time. Write them down and answer them in blog posts.

4. Remember why you are doing this. You must have a reason for blogging. Whatever it is, remember it. If you want a new job or you are trying to get more clients–whatever it is–write the posts toward that end. Blog for the job you want. Whatever you want to do, write about it and it will come.

5. Go all in or go home. Half-hearted blogging wastes all of the time you spend on it and provides no value. Better not to do it at all. If you decide to do it, commit to it. If you think you don’t have enough time, remember that we all actually have the same amount of time each day–no one actually has any more time for blogging than you do. “I don’t have time” really means “Blogging isn’t more important than everything else I am already doing with my time.” If that’s true, then don’t blog. If not, well you know what you need to do.

Above all, find some fun in what you are doing. If you don’t enjoy writing a post, you are either writing about the wrong subjects (find topics that jazz you) or you shouldn’t be blogging (maybe doing videos would be easier than writing). Blogging is right for many people but not everyone, If it is right for you, follow these tips and you should be just fine.”

- Daniel Burstein @DanielBurstein

Daniel Burstein is the director of Editorial Content at MECLABS. Daniel oversees all editorial content coming from the MarketingExperiments and MarketingSherpa brands while helping to shape the editorial direction for MECLABS – working with our team of reporters to dig for actionable information while serving as an advocate for the audience.

“Focus on your audience. I’ve seen all too often marketers start blogs because they think they should be doing content marketing. Or, even worse, their boss tells them they should be doing content marketing, without an understanding of what it takes or involves. So they just use the blog to post self-promotional material. Or material they care about, but their target audience won’t (for example, a demographic mismatch where young bloggers make pop culture references that their target audience won’t understand or care about).

A blog is really two things. One, simply a piece of technology, a platform. But, two, it is a promise in the minds of most readers, who expect that the blog should have actual content with some elements of value that is hyper-targeted to their needs. Much like with a newspaper. Readers don’t just look at a newspaper as newsprint that is delivered on their driveway every morning. They look at it as valuable information about their city, where they live, and the things that they do.

So, ask yourself, why are we starting a blog? More importantly, how can our blog help improve our reader’s lives? Help them overcome challenges? Help them reach their goals? And why, given all the other content options they have, should our target audience read our blog? If don’t have compelling answers to these questions, then you’re likely just wasting time.”

- Sherry Lamoreaux @SherrryActOn

Sherry Lamoreaux is a chief content editor, marketer and writer at Act-On Blog which is a marketing automation platform. She firmly believes that simple solutions are generally better than more complex ones.

“If we agree on the premise that your blog is one tactic in an overall communications strategy, that’s a good beginning.

Given that, the most important thing is to understand your audience. Who are you writing for? What do they want to know or learn about? Your readers trade their time for something of value; the more value you can deliver, the more likely they are to bookmark you or comment. This means it’s not about you or your organization; it’s about the reader and his or her concerns. Be real, be honest, be interesting, and be helpful.

Your blog content strategy should be coordinated with your team members who provide other content, on social channels, email, your website.

Oh, and don’t forget about images. Use ones that help tell your story. Creative Commons is a good place to find free ones, but be careful to observe the copyright rules, and give the artists the credit they are due. Just get started; your efforts will be repaid with increased traffic and SEO rankings. Good luck!”

- Joel Comm @JoelComm

Joel Comm is an entrepreneur, New York Times Best Selling Author, and new media innovator. He has consistently been described as one of the world’s foremost authorities on Social Media, Internet Marketing, eCommerce and Mobile applications.

“My tips are as follows:

1. Own your own domain. WordPress.com and Blogger are good for getting started, but you want to have complete control of your content.

2. Be authentic. People connect with others who are vulnerable and real.

3. Write from your own pool of knowledge, wisdom and experience. Don’t try to write about something just because it’s a hot topic.

4. Blog regularly. Writers write.

5. Don’t be afraid of controversy. Strong opinions lead to engaged readers.

6. Encourage feedback by asking questions

7. Build an email list by offering an ethical bribe to your visitors. Their email address is valuable. Respect it by providing something valuable in exchange.

8. Share your latest articles via all your social network connections.”

Creating a blog is a tough challenge, and you should also think about keeping it lively enough. What lessons have you learned during your career in content marketing? What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

What is a Video Blog Template?

A video blog template is the theme, or layout, of your video blog. There are thousands of templates that you can choose from for your blog, to fit the look you are working to achieve.

Why Should you Personalize Your Blog Template?

Your blog is a direct representation of your company and your products or services. A generic template will not do your company justice and will likely turn people away. Therefore, when someone makes their way onto your blog, it is important that what they see is an accurate portrayal of your company.

By taking your time to personalize your video blog template, your viewers will see that you represent a professional company and that you care about quality. Both of these attributes are crucial in order for you to gain customers.

How do you Personalize a Blog Template?

There are many ways that you can personalize your video blog template to make it stand out from the rest.

• Make it Professional and Attractive

One of the most important goals of a video blog is to capture the attention of viewers. A clean, professional looking blog is your first step. If there is too much clutter on the page, viewers are likely to become overwhelmed and leave.

Also, to get the most views, your video must be what stands out among all the other details on your blog. To do this, you must ensure that your video is placed in a large viewing area in the center of the blog.

• Add Interactive Features

Another important goal is to keep the viewer’s attention. This can be accomplished through the use of interactive applications. There are many different interactive buttons you can add to your video template.

Some of these interactive features include becoming a subscriber, sharing your video to others, signing up for newsletters or making purchases. Therefore, not only do these help to keep the viewer interested, but also by doing so you increase the likelihood of them becoming customers.

• Include a Slide-Out Bar

Video blogs should be kept at a length of approximately three minutes or less, in order to maintain the viewer’s attention. However, with this limited time you may wonder where you will put additional information. Slide-out bars are your answer.

Slide-out bars make it possible for you to include additional information, such as your company’s contact information or product details onto the video template itself. This way, you can keep your videos at the preferred time limit, without having to compromise what information is shared.

• Add Share Buttons

Many social media platforms and video sites have sharing buttons available for you to include in your blog. This simple to add feature enables your video to be easily shared among the friends and family of your viewers. With a simple click of a button, they can share your video blog on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and a number of other sites.

As you can see, there are many options available for personalizing your video blog template. By doing so, you can achieve great results. Therefore, it is no wonder why so many companies are jumping on this excellent marketing tool.

How will you personalize your video blog template?

Image #1 sourced from (free-freebloggertemplates.blogspot.com)

Image #2 sourced from (atulperx.com)

In order to attract readers to your blog, you must create compelling content. This means that your content must quickly get the readers attention – and hold on to it. But, at the same time, you must make an emotional connection with them. Compelling content will help the reader start to trust you, and will in turn help build an emotional connection with the reader. This is what will make your blog a success. Here is a list of the most essential ingredients to achieve this success.

 1. Your Title Must Grab The Reader

Generally, you want your title to include all the essential keywords of the subject that your article discusses. Titles that try to be too cute or too hip will simply confuse the search engines, and certainly confuse your audience. Keep the title simple, and right on point. Your article title is the first thing that will grab your reader’s attention. Make it count.

2. Use Your Own Voice

It is imperative to speak directly to your reader using your own voice, using informal language. Doing this will allow your personality show through to the reader. It will make you appear more honest and open. A reader will appreciate this and because of your honesty start to build a trust with you. Consistently using the same writing voice will also help the reader start to build an emotional connection with you.

3. Keep It Short

Blog posts should generally be between 400 and 800 words. Readers want you to give them the information they need as quickly as possible. If your article is any longer, try to break it up into two or three separate postings. Don’t name them using ‘Part 1’, ‘Part 2’, etc. Give each article its own name. Keeping each blog post short will force you to keep your writing very tight and stay on point. Readers will appreciate this, and start to trust you more.

4. Make It Informative And Inspiring

Practical, useful, insightful, inspiring, honest, and helpful content, that provides the information that your audience is looking for, is by far the best way to build an audience that will come back for more. Your article’s title initially grabbed the reader’s attention, and got them to start reading your blog post. Now you must present the information that the title promised to deliver. Delivering what you promised will give you credibility with the reader, and help the reader trust you more.

5. Show Your Passion

You should allow your passion for the subject matter to show through to the reader in every blog posting. If you are not truly passionate about your topic, and passionate about sharing your information, your readers will sense your lack of commitment immediately. Your lack of passion will push readers away – and they won’t come back for more.

6. Be Visually Appealing

This means using a numbered list, or bullet points, italics, bolded headings, highlighting text with colors, and using a photograph or graphic that will catch their attention. The subject matter of the photograph or graphic can be directly related to the topic, or just be there to catch their eye. If you add links to your article, make sure that the link text is blue. All of these design tips will help your reader move through your article quickly and efficiently.

7. Make An Emotional Connection

The advice that I have given you so far all lead up to this. Making an emotional connection with your reader. This is the key ingredient for all successful blogs. If you consistently use the six ingredients I have shown you, you will quickly build an emotional connection with your reader. This will in turn build a lasting relationship with your reader. Then when it comes time to promote and sell your products and services, you will already have an audience that is willing to listen to what you have to offer them.

Now that I have that out of the way, and have kept Shadow’s pristine reputation intact, there’s a reason why I’m writing this. Honestly, there is.

Just yesterday, someone from the State of Wisconsin Office of Administration found my blog by Googling just that:

Why would a chocolate lab eat a baby chipmunk?

The reason they found my blog, and spent some time there, is because of a post I wrote earlier this year about Stuff My Dog Ate. It was a random post, part of my Friday Blogging Experience series, and while they may have enjoyed the stories of some of the crazy things that Shadow has eaten, they didn’t get the answer to their actual question. Unless of course they make the leap that, doggone it all, labs will eat just about anything!

But the point here is that I actually knew that this particular individual from that particular organization was on my blog looking for an answer to that question. Why? Because I check my analytics. I like to know who is on my site and how they got there. In this particular situation I discovered this through a cursory look at my Clicky real time analytics.

While a lot of folks are talking about this fuzzy thing called “big data,” there’s already a lot of great information and data at your fingertips.

By checking your analytics, you can discover what people are searching for when they find your blog. This can be a great way to fine tune your blogging and content marketing strategy to make sure you are meeting their needs and giving them what you want. You can also find out how many of your “readers” are really there for what you are offering. In this particular case, this person isn’t really a potential customer. Because of the nature of how I write and tell stories, I get a good bit of traffic from folks searching for odd things like this. We can get caught up in the numbers of unique visitors and views, and lose site of the fact that some of those people, a lot in fact, aren’t really there for you. They might find you through some random search that has nothing to do with you, or perhaps an image search. Either way, they might come, stay a few seconds, then leave. Regardless of your goals, or what you are measuring as a conversion, these folks generally aren’t part of that, and never will be.

On the other hand, if this same person had found me by searching something along the lines of:

How to start a blog about raising chocolate labs

Then I might be on to something. Despite be the owner of a chocolate lab, I’m not here for the purpose of offering advice about them. I am, however, very interested in teaching people all about blogging, regardless of what they are blogging about. So by studying the terms that people are searching for when they find me, I get a better picture of how much of my traffic is really relevant.

This information helps to shape a lot of how I approach my blog as I move forward; from the types of posts and types of content to even the titles I use when I publish my posts. By searching those search terms, you might find some untapped markets or niches. You might discover not only why people are reading your blog, but what things they wish you were writing about more often.

So today, I’m writing about why a chocolate lab would eat a baby chipmunk, because that’s what someone wanted. Goodness knows I wouldn’t want them to be disappointed. My answer? I honestly don’t know. In fact, I did the exact same Google search and came up with numerous articles about what chipmunks eat, but no answer to why this person’s dog chose to eat either Chip or Dale. Go figure.

So perhaps if you’re a dog lover (or chipmunk lover), this could be a niche for a new blog. Go for it. You’re welcome.

How often do you check your analytics, particularly the search terms your readers are using? And how do you use that information?

Serves 1 Brand

Ingredients:One Comprehensive Brand Strategy
As many blog writers as needed
Contributing Guest Authors
Google Authorship
Large Quantities of Quality Content
Continuous Brainstorming
Monthly Content Calendars
A Dash of Trending Topics
Relevant High-Resolution Images
Optimized Blog Features
Social Network Presence

Directions:

Establish your comprehensive brand strategy before beginning to mix together ingredients in the blogging recipe. Your blog should be an extension of your brand – so determine content guidelines, as well as intentions. Typically, blogs serve as successful thought leadership platforms, proving credibility within a range of industries.

Set goals for potential benefits, such as sales lead generation. Companies that blog have 434% more indexed pages – and companies with more indexed pages get far more leads. This benefit will likely take time, as readership grows.

Although some companies recruit team members to write what they can, a consistent blogging schedule necessitates a brand writer. This is becoming more common with the evolution of content marketing. Occasional contributing guest authors can also increase linking. Set up Google Authorship as well – Search Engine Land reports that the implantation of “rel=author” increases click-through-rates anywhere from 30% to 150%.

Next, create a content calendar based on industry insight, company news and trending topics. We recommend monthly calendars that leave room for current events and life’s unexpected twists. It’s helpful for the blog writers to continuously keep idea brainstorms going for future posts.

Ensure internal blog features are optimized for SEO benefits. This includes: keywords, title pages, tagging and linking. Find more information on blogging for SEO here. Frequency and freshness effect blog search engine rankings, so stick to as much of your schedule as you can. Include relevant, high-quality images in blog posts.

The final step – the bread in the oven, if you will – consists of strong cross-promotion on social networks. Promoting your blog is key to garnering consistent readers and encouraging sharing (We share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn daily!). This leads to increased brand awareness, site traffic and sales.

This recipe varies from the traditional in that you never let it cool. Keep your blogging strategy hot by way of engaging content and steady promotions. Blog success takes time and a big dose of creativity.

Hungry for more social success? Take a look at these recipes:

A Recipe for Social Success: Pinterest for Food & Beverage Brands

A Recipe for Social Success: YouTube Brand Marketing

Contact ZOG Digital with any questions and feedback on the recipe or individual ingredients.

DISCLAIMER: This recipe does not actually produce edible results.