Blog? What is it?
- A conversation
- A business relationship builder
- A website
- A web page that changes frequently
- You manage your own content
- Messenger of fresh, relevant information
A Blog is Not
- A commercial
- Direct advertising
Blog Anatomy
- Header
- Posting area
- Comment space
- Sidebar archive
- Category based info organization
- Small Potatoes Adventures in Eating Close to Home
- The al Dente Canoodler - Pasta
Why Blog?
- Draw an audience
- Build brand buzz
- Inform your audience
- Call your audience to action
- Sharpen your competitive edge
- Increase sales $$
Blog Fringe Benefits
- Creates community
- Creates a pre-sale business relationship
- Builds trust & credibility
- Positions you as an authoritative leader
- Generates tasty search engine spider food
How to Approach Blogging
- Blogs are conversations, be conversational
- If you don’t want to complete the conversation don’t start it
- Blog about what you know
- Provide helpful, useful value added information
- Engage, be genuine, excited and authentic.
Know Your Audience
- What does your audience want?
- Search for and review similar blogs
- Review blogs on related topics
- Note features you like
- Google Blog Search -http://blogsearch.google.com/
- Technorati - http://technorati.com/
- WordPress Home Page -http://wordpress.com/
The Sweet Spot
- What does your audience want?
- Respond to what your audience wants
Build & maintain
- Trust
- Credibility
- Authority
Research Tools
- What is your audience searching for on Google?
- Google Keyword Tool - https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal
Plan your Blog
- Who is your target audience?
- Why are you blogging?
- What’s your story?
- How you will differentiate yourself
- Where is the value for your audience?
- Be realistic; define your available blog time.
- Is your blog public or private?
- Allow or Screen public comments?
Select a Blog Space
- Blogger – free
https://www.blogger.com/start
- TypePad - $$
http://www.typepad.com/
- WordPress.COM – free
http://wordpress.com/
- WordPress.ORG - $$
http://wordpress.org/
Grow Your Blog,
- Be patient
- Blogging is a long term commitment
- Success may take months, even years
- Offer outstanding value
- Give people good reason to come back
- Blog frequently
- Invite participation
- Respond to comments
Produced by John Sedgwick - Vantage 21st - Professional Internet Marketing Advice
360 855 0109 john@vantage21st.com - www.vantage21st.com
Copyright John Sedgwick - all rights reserved