March 23, 2010 at 12:38 pm
By Bob Speyer, Web Success Team
Mark Twain once remarked, “Reports of My Death Are Greatly Exaggerated.” The same holds true for Blogs. Statistics show that Blogging is still one of the most effective ways to promote your company, expand your Internet footprint, position you as an authority, and generate increased website traffic, leads and sales.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
I’ll share with you some ways to squeeze more productivity out of your Blog, but first here are a few mouth-watering statistics by Technorati on the 2009 State of the Blogosphere.
- Over 133,000,000 blogs were indexed by Technorati since 2002.
- 77% of Internet users read blogs.
- 66% of bloggers are male; 75% of all bloggers have degrees.
- 61% say they blog to supplement their income.
- 72% self-employed bloggers want to attract new clients.
- 57% plan on increasing their blogging.
- The average to update a blog is 2-3 times per week.
- 82% of respondents post photos to their blog.
- 56% say blogging enhances their reputation in their industry.
Top Six Reasons to Blog?
Blogging does pay dividends, but like anything else, to get results you need to put in the effort. Ideally you should blog as often as possible or at least 2-3 times per week. Below are reasons and useful tips to make your Blog more effective and, most importantly, well-read. Blogging helps:
- Build brand awareness
- Boost search engine rankings and visibility
- Establish a relationship with your customer base
- Position yourself as an authority in your field
- Target your marketplace
- Acquire new clients, generate more leads and sales
Turning Termites into Sales
Next you need to create blogs that people will relate to and want to read. You are writing for their edification, not your own. If people find your information useful, helpful and full of great ideas, they will bookmark your blog, become part of your blogosphere even share it with colleagues and it will go viral. Here is a good example:
Let’s say you sell termite inspection and removal services. You might want to discuss how the industry is handling the consumer’s concerns about the environment and what effective alternatives to harmful chemicals exist to treat the problem. Once educated, a consumer will have confidence in your expertise, your technology and may contact you for an inspection.
In this scenario, you are satisfying the visitor’s need for information about a specific termite problem and then are addressing their concerns. It’s all about them and if they are reading and enjoying your engaging Blog article.
Increase Your Blog IQ
Here are a few more ways to improve your Blogging effectiveness:
- Read top Blogs in your industry to see what your competitors are doing.
- Track the Comments section read what your customers or potential customers and saying.
- Creating an open dialogue is the best way to be sure visitors will respond to your content. Always invite people to comment.
- Write “How to” and “Best Tips” articles.
- Break up the Blog content with engaging sub-heads.
- Use a resource box at the end of each article so people can contact you.
- Add photos and images, podcasts and videos. People like visuals.
- Don’t be too corporate and starchy. Write like you are talking to a friend. Add some spice to your posts. Be funny, unique, filled with personality.
- Reread your post to make certain it is written for the reader, not you.
- Get readers involved by adding a poll to get their feedback.
- People rarely read the entire article. They scan, looking to see if it is worth their time. Give them a reason to stop and read. Make an outrageous statement and back it up. Offer an opinion, be insightful. Don’t be passive or boring! Mix it up.
- Encourage others to post articles on your blog – guest authors, industry experts, customer comments.
- Utilize the social media like Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin to promote and drive traffic to your Blog.
- Review your statistics to see which articles are gaining the most traction and what topics garner the most interest. Then write more of them.
- Use your keywords and of course optimize your Blogs for search.
Whistle While You Work
Following these simple guidelines will produce big results. And like anything, the more you blog the better you will get. Make it fun, informative and creative. Most of all, don’t think of it as work. If done correctly, blogging is a shortcut to achieving web success.
Comments anyone?
I also encourage my readers to add their own voice in the Comments section below.
The Web Success Team specializes in developing and marketing direct response websites that take full advantage of the latest developments on the Internet. The Team has an arsenal of effective web strategies, online marketing tools and proven customized social media techniques to promote your products and services. And we’ll show you ways to increase the amount of qualified traffic to your site.
For more tips, tools and articles of interest, become a fan of the WebSuccessTeam Facebook page and learn more about online marketing, SEO and social media. Visit us at http://www.facebook.com/WebSuccessTeam. Contact the Team today for a complimentary consultation to your web success.
February 25, 2010 at 6:23 pm
By Bob Speyer and Kristin Tomlinson, Web Success Team
Internet marketing gossip is exploding — and the line between fact and fiction is blurring. If gossiping is a crime, then every blogger and Internet savvy professional needs to be incarcerated for this misdemeanor. What was once an indulgence is becoming a dependency as more and more individuals are turning to various social media outlets to extract their daily dose of breaking news and scandal. Today, people are simply taking a quick glance at their updates on Facebook and Twitter to squeeze out the latest juice. Social media marketing is the driving force behind this Internet sensation, and businesses everywhere are taking notice of its impact on consumers and using it to their advantage. They’re spending less on print ads and relying more on word of mouth through online marketing to establish their web success.
He Said… or Did He?
It’s no secret that a small whisper can turn into a loud buzz through emails, blogs and tweets. Like Michael Jackson’s tragic death or the shocking fabrication of the demise of actor Johnny Depp, gossip is an unstoppable force and it’s making a special guest appearance on every text, tweet, and chat room. Whether imported or formed domestically, hoaxes and factual stories alike are making the evening news. As Mark Twain once said, “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” This was a giant wake up call for marketers who underestimated the power of the digital word to deliver their message. Companies are quickly fanning this fire by to turning their words into actions by using Internet medias to promote their brands, goods and services.
What Happens in Vegas, Goes on the Web
If you want to save a marriage before it’s even begun, do yourself a favor and delete last week’s bachelor party pictures from your camera. Today nothing is safe from the prying eyes of the Internet. When pictures and comments get posted on Facebook, they will go viral on other sites like Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. Even Google is jumping on the bandwagon by indexing Facebook Updates. You can bet your dirty laundry that friend and competitor will read it. With so many social media sites itching to be the first ones to deliver the breaking revelation of the day, nothing ever is kept hush or in the dark anymore. So it is a good practice to discriminate what you post — from a corporate or personal standpoint.
Rumor Control
With Internet gossip running rampant, things can spiral out of control. You may not be able to stop it but you are not helpless either. Managing your reputation is important, especially when your business relies heavily on online marketing to deliver your message. Good communication has always been effective and holds true in this digital era. Be honest, transparent and consistent. Address your detractors online and promote your brand.
