Ron Killian
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I don't claim to be a blogging pro, far from it. But I've learned a few things over the years when it comes to blogging, usually the hard way, so I'd thought I share my experience.
Ready?
Quality Layout
This probably doesn't need to be mentioned, but it does. Most bloggers get it. It adds to the user experience, even on a subconscious level.
There are great looking sites out there.
But there are a few that are butt ugly.
Choose a theme or layout that is easy on the eye's and easy to read. It does not have to have fancy graphics, a minimal design can be very pleasing to your visitors.
There are so many theme's out there, many of them free, and many low cost, there is no reason not to have a good looking site these days. No reason.
If you're not sure if your site looks good enough, and it NEVER hurts to have other opinion, ask for reviews. Most internet marketing forums have a review section where you can post a link to your blog and get feedback. Use it, take advantage of it. Just be open to criticism, it might happen, when applicable, use it to improve your blog.
Quality Content
They say content is king, and when it comes to blogging, it is by far the most important aspect. After all, without good content, what's the sense?
I am not saying you need to write award-winning content, or that it needs to be worthy of a New York best seller slot.
It needs to be useful to your target audience. It needs to be readable. It needs to be of some value.
Help your visitors learn or earn and you'll be fine.
And, please, please, please...
Put some personality into your content. Nothing more boring than a blog post that goes on like a lecture, or huge blocks of paragraphs. You're not a professor teaching a text-book class, you're a blogger, probably writing for regular people.
Writing like you talk, like you are, live in person, can go a long way.
One last thing... and I am sure I will get some flack..
If your blogging to English speaking visitors, you need to have a descent command of the language and just as important, the grammar. Nothing worse than trying to read content that makes little to no sense with very poor grammar.
I'll be the first to admit, I am make all kinds of writing mistakes. Not saying your content needs to be perfect, but it sure helps to be readable.
TIP: This might not work for everyone, but I've found that the more I write (type), the more I write. The more it seems to flow out of my brain. You just need to get started, just start pecking at the keyboard.
Consistent Posting
Here's one I've learn the hard way, and still guilty of it from time to time. For any website to grow and have the opportunity it needs to be updated.
I know you know this, but I have to say it.
For a blog to grow it needs new posts in a regular basis. Not only to keep visitors coming back, but it can also help in the search engines. They do like new content.
How often should new content be posted?
Obviously it depends on how much time you have to spend working your blog. Though don't spend mega time on social media or play online games then say you don't have time. Not that I've ever done that
Nothing is set in stone, but a good guide line is to add a new post each week. It's a good way to schedule.
Speaking of schedules, it never hurts to actually have one. Something I keep saying I am going to do. Could be a simple calendar, computer program or online app.
Doesn't matter if it's weekly, or several times a week, just be consistent. I personally wouldn't go longer than once a week, but that's only my opinion.
One blogger I use to read, that seems to achieved some fame in a part of the blog-o-sphere claimed that his posting 3-5 new posts a day (yes per day), made a difference. Could have, I don't know. But for most people, that would be VERY tough to keep up with that kind of schedule.
My point is, do what works for you, not what others "say" is right or best. More importantly, you need to do what brings you a return, either financially or traffic. Unless you just want a hobby.
Promotion
Quality content is one thing, but if no one reads it, where will it get you? Some of the experts say we should spend 20% of our time on content creation and 80% of our time on promoting our content.
I've never proven that statement, nor have I seen concrete proof that it's true, but I think it's a very good goal. We all need goals, right?
So how do you promote your blog?
For many niches or markets, such as internet marketing, one of the best and easier ways to promote is commenting on other bloggers blog posts.
Why commenting?
It actually serves a few purposes, some quite powerful in my opinion.
Here's what it can do for your blog:
• Drive traffic, visitors and readers to your blog - These could be regular visitors that come back time and time again. Make sure you have mechanisms in place for them to be alerted when you post new content. Could be RSS feed, email sign up or social links.
• Build relationships with fellow bloggers - This can be quite powerful. It can lead to guest posts, working on projects, people who happily share your content on social media every time.
• Social Proof - When a blog has comments, it can give the perception that you put out read-worthy content. It can give the perception that you have a following, that you have readers. A blog with no comments is a ghost town.
• Build more comments in your blog - When you comment on other blogs, the law of reciprocation kicks in, in most instances, and those other bloggers will usually stop by your home and drop a comment on your content.
• More Social Shares - Or finally some shares, if you're struggling to get your blog off the ground. Commenting could and should get shares from your visitors and from other blog owners. Remember, other bloggers will comment to help their blog as well, and they will often share other work socially because it could gain other marketers (bloggers) to share their stuff. Again, the law of Reciprocation at work.
Now, here's some really good "stuff", the possible positive side effects of quality blog commenting...
• Guest posts - Since you are networking with other bloggers when commenting, and many of them will made it a point of stopping by your blog and drop a comment, they will be reading your content. Now if it's good, they just might contact you to do a guest post for their blog. I know it's how I get mine. And let me tell you, I track sales as much as I can and guest posts do bring in buyers. Or you might be asked if you want to be included in a "roundup", which is usually a compilation of related blog posts with links to each post.
• Networking - Although I've already touched on this, it can be one of the best things you can do for your blog and your business. When you make "friends" or contacts with similar and like-minded people, you open up even more opportunities. As I've already mentioned, you could get guest posts or included in round-ups. Better still, it can build a group of people who eagerly share your content on social sites, a band of sharers if you will. You could meet people who turn into real friends. People that you could work on projects with or share experiences and ideas.
Another way to promote your blog is with related forums. It could be as simple as putting a link to your blog in your signature. For it to really pay off you DO need to become a valuable part of the community. A forum is a community.
Forum marketing is another subject in itself, so I won't get into great detail here. I'll just say it can drive traffic when done right. When done wrong, you can just look like an idiot and waste your time.
Social Media Promotion
We've already talked about comments and how they can be an important part of your promotional time.
But I thought a couple things needed to be said when it comes to social media. It's a traffic medium we can't ignore.
As you know, you need to make sure you have social buttons on your content, and ones that work. But it also helps to position them for maximum clickness. Yes I just made that up. Did I invent a new word? Probably not.
But...
From my testing, social buttons that hover off to the side of the content and move as the reader scrolls, has achieved the highest click thru rate for me. Can't say it's the best in every instance, or every blog, just what's worked for me.
The big point it, you need to make it easy for your visitors to share, and just as important, you need to make it readily available for that click. I know this is common sense, but some folks miss it.
Another debate that comes about, is which social buttons you should use. Everyone has their own opinion and there are many theories, but sometimes we can miss out on traffic. For example, a while back I put up a Reddit button and noticed it was getting clicks. You just never know.
Now, I am NOT saying you need to stick up 50 social buttons, that's just so 2010 in internet time and most times not effective at all. Plus it can "junk" up your blog.
Wow, I've gone on here. Guess it's time to end this.
This was just a short primer, I did not cover everything, some things I probably missed or could have added, but I hope it helps.
Do you have anything to add? Comments? Idea's? Thoughts? Did you bring me a snickers?
Ready?
Quality Layout
This probably doesn't need to be mentioned, but it does. Most bloggers get it. It adds to the user experience, even on a subconscious level.
There are great looking sites out there.
But there are a few that are butt ugly.
Choose a theme or layout that is easy on the eye's and easy to read. It does not have to have fancy graphics, a minimal design can be very pleasing to your visitors.
There are so many theme's out there, many of them free, and many low cost, there is no reason not to have a good looking site these days. No reason.
If you're not sure if your site looks good enough, and it NEVER hurts to have other opinion, ask for reviews. Most internet marketing forums have a review section where you can post a link to your blog and get feedback. Use it, take advantage of it. Just be open to criticism, it might happen, when applicable, use it to improve your blog.
Quality Content
They say content is king, and when it comes to blogging, it is by far the most important aspect. After all, without good content, what's the sense?
I am not saying you need to write award-winning content, or that it needs to be worthy of a New York best seller slot.
It needs to be useful to your target audience. It needs to be readable. It needs to be of some value.
Help your visitors learn or earn and you'll be fine.
And, please, please, please...
Put some personality into your content. Nothing more boring than a blog post that goes on like a lecture, or huge blocks of paragraphs. You're not a professor teaching a text-book class, you're a blogger, probably writing for regular people.
Writing like you talk, like you are, live in person, can go a long way.
One last thing... and I am sure I will get some flack..
If your blogging to English speaking visitors, you need to have a descent command of the language and just as important, the grammar. Nothing worse than trying to read content that makes little to no sense with very poor grammar.
I'll be the first to admit, I am make all kinds of writing mistakes. Not saying your content needs to be perfect, but it sure helps to be readable.
TIP: This might not work for everyone, but I've found that the more I write (type), the more I write. The more it seems to flow out of my brain. You just need to get started, just start pecking at the keyboard.
Consistent Posting
Here's one I've learn the hard way, and still guilty of it from time to time. For any website to grow and have the opportunity it needs to be updated.
I know you know this, but I have to say it.
For a blog to grow it needs new posts in a regular basis. Not only to keep visitors coming back, but it can also help in the search engines. They do like new content.
How often should new content be posted?
Obviously it depends on how much time you have to spend working your blog. Though don't spend mega time on social media or play online games then say you don't have time. Not that I've ever done that
Nothing is set in stone, but a good guide line is to add a new post each week. It's a good way to schedule.
Speaking of schedules, it never hurts to actually have one. Something I keep saying I am going to do. Could be a simple calendar, computer program or online app.
Doesn't matter if it's weekly, or several times a week, just be consistent. I personally wouldn't go longer than once a week, but that's only my opinion.
One blogger I use to read, that seems to achieved some fame in a part of the blog-o-sphere claimed that his posting 3-5 new posts a day (yes per day), made a difference. Could have, I don't know. But for most people, that would be VERY tough to keep up with that kind of schedule.
My point is, do what works for you, not what others "say" is right or best. More importantly, you need to do what brings you a return, either financially or traffic. Unless you just want a hobby.
Promotion
Quality content is one thing, but if no one reads it, where will it get you? Some of the experts say we should spend 20% of our time on content creation and 80% of our time on promoting our content.
I've never proven that statement, nor have I seen concrete proof that it's true, but I think it's a very good goal. We all need goals, right?
So how do you promote your blog?
For many niches or markets, such as internet marketing, one of the best and easier ways to promote is commenting on other bloggers blog posts.
Why commenting?
It actually serves a few purposes, some quite powerful in my opinion.
Here's what it can do for your blog:
• Drive traffic, visitors and readers to your blog - These could be regular visitors that come back time and time again. Make sure you have mechanisms in place for them to be alerted when you post new content. Could be RSS feed, email sign up or social links.
• Build relationships with fellow bloggers - This can be quite powerful. It can lead to guest posts, working on projects, people who happily share your content on social media every time.
• Social Proof - When a blog has comments, it can give the perception that you put out read-worthy content. It can give the perception that you have a following, that you have readers. A blog with no comments is a ghost town.
• Build more comments in your blog - When you comment on other blogs, the law of reciprocation kicks in, in most instances, and those other bloggers will usually stop by your home and drop a comment on your content.
• More Social Shares - Or finally some shares, if you're struggling to get your blog off the ground. Commenting could and should get shares from your visitors and from other blog owners. Remember, other bloggers will comment to help their blog as well, and they will often share other work socially because it could gain other marketers (bloggers) to share their stuff. Again, the law of Reciprocation at work.
Now, here's some really good "stuff", the possible positive side effects of quality blog commenting...
• Guest posts - Since you are networking with other bloggers when commenting, and many of them will made it a point of stopping by your blog and drop a comment, they will be reading your content. Now if it's good, they just might contact you to do a guest post for their blog. I know it's how I get mine. And let me tell you, I track sales as much as I can and guest posts do bring in buyers. Or you might be asked if you want to be included in a "roundup", which is usually a compilation of related blog posts with links to each post.
• Networking - Although I've already touched on this, it can be one of the best things you can do for your blog and your business. When you make "friends" or contacts with similar and like-minded people, you open up even more opportunities. As I've already mentioned, you could get guest posts or included in round-ups. Better still, it can build a group of people who eagerly share your content on social sites, a band of sharers if you will. You could meet people who turn into real friends. People that you could work on projects with or share experiences and ideas.
Another way to promote your blog is with related forums. It could be as simple as putting a link to your blog in your signature. For it to really pay off you DO need to become a valuable part of the community. A forum is a community.
Forum marketing is another subject in itself, so I won't get into great detail here. I'll just say it can drive traffic when done right. When done wrong, you can just look like an idiot and waste your time.
Social Media Promotion
We've already talked about comments and how they can be an important part of your promotional time.
But I thought a couple things needed to be said when it comes to social media. It's a traffic medium we can't ignore.
As you know, you need to make sure you have social buttons on your content, and ones that work. But it also helps to position them for maximum clickness. Yes I just made that up. Did I invent a new word? Probably not.
But...
From my testing, social buttons that hover off to the side of the content and move as the reader scrolls, has achieved the highest click thru rate for me. Can't say it's the best in every instance, or every blog, just what's worked for me.
The big point it, you need to make it easy for your visitors to share, and just as important, you need to make it readily available for that click. I know this is common sense, but some folks miss it.
Another debate that comes about, is which social buttons you should use. Everyone has their own opinion and there are many theories, but sometimes we can miss out on traffic. For example, a while back I put up a Reddit button and noticed it was getting clicks. You just never know.
Now, I am NOT saying you need to stick up 50 social buttons, that's just so 2010 in internet time and most times not effective at all. Plus it can "junk" up your blog.
Wow, I've gone on here. Guess it's time to end this.
This was just a short primer, I did not cover everything, some things I probably missed or could have added, but I hope it helps.
Do you have anything to add? Comments? Idea's? Thoughts? Did you bring me a snickers?
