Everybody has a blog. No matter the topic or discussion someone has got it covered. From online diaries in the mid nineties to becoming one of the foundations of the internet, blogging along with video and social bookmarking is changing not only how we get our information but also the manner in which online business is conducted.
This is why it would be a good idea for you incorporate blogging into your overall internet marketing plan. What blogging can do very effectively is to build your target markets and bring you a steady flow of internet traffic and customers.
Blogs are free and easy to run. Just go to Blogger or Wordpress.com, signup and start posting. Try to start out posting on a daily basis or at least a three to four times a week then use these tips to get traffic to your blog
Email Marketing List
In a recent survey, 100% of online users say they communicate using email. This is a good way to send messages to your opt in email list with links going back to your blog web site. Let them know you've posted a new article or video on your blog. Use snippets or summaries to entice people to click on the link and get further information. The more times people on your list see your blog the more they will get to know you and give a second look to some products or services you maybe offering.
In addition you can gain more viewers to your blog by giving away a subscription along with free report. Advertise in ezine publications that target your niche as well as forums and classified ad sites like US Free Ads.
Free RSS Feed
Rich Site Summary also known as Really Simple Syndication is the process of delivering constantly updated content to your blog by pacing a block of code (known as a feed) on your webpages. In our fast paced information age, RSS fits perfectly. It allows your visitors to stay up to date on any new information you've added to your blog without necessarily having to visit every page on your blog. Instead they view a window that list the headlines followed by a quick summary of what each article is about.
Having a free RSS feed accomplishes two things besides getting more site traffic. First since the content is updated frequently it keeps the search engines coming back to your site and crawling for the new information. Second it can increase your visibility among your blog visitors. This is important because while they may not visit your blog everyday, providing a feed to your subscribers is a good way to for them to stay in touch.
Network
A blog network is a compilation of blogs under a sole domain or company name. Some web visitors take comfort in clicking a link that takes them to different bloggers who cover the same topic. This is also an excellent way to get free advertisement and free web traffic to your site since people who visit the network will invariably be exposed to your blog.
You can also submit to blog directories or just ask your readers to give you feedback on something you posted (the search engines view comments as updating content on your blog). No matter which technique you choose, blogging offers a new way to connect with your readers. Simple, unfiltered and a perfect fit for today's internet, blogging is a smart resource to have in your internet marketing online tool kit.
Daryl Campbell invites you to get more free tips, video, step by step coaching and up to the minute information to grow your successful online business at
Internet Marketing Guide
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Blogging Essential: Three Mistakes That Can Spell the End of Your Blog
Who would have thunk it? Blogging, started out in 1994 as random musings by a handful of internet users who considered them nothing more than online diaries. Not anymore. Blogging is not only commonplace but it can also be a key component in online business success.
Why has it become such a phenomenon? No doubt convenience plays a major role. Blogs are easy to set up and use. Also unlike traditional website building, blogs require no technical expertise which means no fooling around with HTML code and the like.
But more than anything blogging gives people a voice to be heard. You can post some thoughts on any topic you wish and instantly have a worldwide audience to read it. If they agree or disagree they can let you know it by providing comments on your blog. Not only is this more interactive that the traditional website but search engines look at comments on your blog as fresh content.
However like everything else in life, there is a flip side. To make blogging work for you there are some things you need to keep in mind.
1. Respect for Your Audience
You want as many people in your targeted niche (and beyond) to check out your blog so do your best to avoid offending them. For instance you may have a blog about politics. This is a good way to attract an audience and have spirited discussions and debates. The key is to make sure that you don't cross the line. It's easy in a politically charged atmosphere to let your emotions get the better of you. As the person who runs the blog you must keep a check on what's happening. Don't let a first-class debate collapse into name-calling and verbal abuse. By losing control of their emotions and or their comment board, a number of bloggers have wound up losing a potential loyal audience.
2. The Over Design
There are many blog layouts to choose from but do not overdo it. Your priority should always be to provide good unique content to your audience. The blog design should complement your writing not compete with it. Your text should also be clearly readable. Don't put your content on a background that's going to strain the eyes of your blog visitors. If you want to experiment fine but you can never go wrong by starting out with a basic design.
3. Where Have You Been?
Blogging is easy but one thing that separates a good blog from the rest of the pack is how often you post information on your blog. You may have been on a couple of discussion forums and heard people say they do not post to their blog if they have nothing to say. That's all well and good but what predictably happens is the amount of time between having something to say gets longer and longer. They start out with great enthusiasm and post daily, than every few days, followed by once a week which then turns into a couple times a month.
This is not going to work. People want information. You should post at least three times a week. Write the content yourself or borrow it from others (just make sure to give them credit). You can write a short blurb about an article you saw online and then give the link to your readers so they can check it out. The point is to not let your blog sit idle for long periods of time. That's a good way to lose an audience hungry for information. It also doesn't help you with the search engines which love blogs that update frequently. Since the majority of your internet traffic will come from places like the Google, Yahoo and MSN it's best to give them what they want.
Blogging is a phenomenon that will continue to grow. While it's effortless to set up and operate never lose sight of the fact that you must respect your audience first while giving them quality frequently updated content in an easy to read format. Welcome to the world of blogging. Enjoy the ride.
Why has it become such a phenomenon? No doubt convenience plays a major role. Blogs are easy to set up and use. Also unlike traditional website building, blogs require no technical expertise which means no fooling around with HTML code and the like.
But more than anything blogging gives people a voice to be heard. You can post some thoughts on any topic you wish and instantly have a worldwide audience to read it. If they agree or disagree they can let you know it by providing comments on your blog. Not only is this more interactive that the traditional website but search engines look at comments on your blog as fresh content.
However like everything else in life, there is a flip side. To make blogging work for you there are some things you need to keep in mind.
1. Respect for Your Audience
You want as many people in your targeted niche (and beyond) to check out your blog so do your best to avoid offending them. For instance you may have a blog about politics. This is a good way to attract an audience and have spirited discussions and debates. The key is to make sure that you don't cross the line. It's easy in a politically charged atmosphere to let your emotions get the better of you. As the person who runs the blog you must keep a check on what's happening. Don't let a first-class debate collapse into name-calling and verbal abuse. By losing control of their emotions and or their comment board, a number of bloggers have wound up losing a potential loyal audience.
2. The Over Design
There are many blog layouts to choose from but do not overdo it. Your priority should always be to provide good unique content to your audience. The blog design should complement your writing not compete with it. Your text should also be clearly readable. Don't put your content on a background that's going to strain the eyes of your blog visitors. If you want to experiment fine but you can never go wrong by starting out with a basic design.
3. Where Have You Been?
Blogging is easy but one thing that separates a good blog from the rest of the pack is how often you post information on your blog. You may have been on a couple of discussion forums and heard people say they do not post to their blog if they have nothing to say. That's all well and good but what predictably happens is the amount of time between having something to say gets longer and longer. They start out with great enthusiasm and post daily, than every few days, followed by once a week which then turns into a couple times a month.
This is not going to work. People want information. You should post at least three times a week. Write the content yourself or borrow it from others (just make sure to give them credit). You can write a short blurb about an article you saw online and then give the link to your readers so they can check it out. The point is to not let your blog sit idle for long periods of time. That's a good way to lose an audience hungry for information. It also doesn't help you with the search engines which love blogs that update frequently. Since the majority of your internet traffic will come from places like the Google, Yahoo and MSN it's best to give them what they want.
Blogging is a phenomenon that will continue to grow. While it's effortless to set up and operate never lose sight of the fact that you must respect your audience first while giving them quality frequently updated content in an easy to read format. Welcome to the world of blogging. Enjoy the ride.
Grow Blog Traffic with Traffic Exchange Networks
One of the biggest problems and struggles with blogging, is the ability to keep growing in size and getting people to actually find your blog. One way that entertainment and news based blogs are bringing in a lot of new and free traffic, is through traffic exchange networks. The ways these networks work is that you place a line of code on your web site, select what categories are relevant to your blog, then start serving their links and images on your web site or blog. Nearly all of the traffic exchange networks listed below will send you a 100-300% increase in traffic that you send them.
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