Good Blogging Karma (And How You Can Get Some)
Every now and then you hear about something that’s just plain cool. That’s the case with what Denise Wakeman does monthly on her Facebook page. She gives. Space on her Facebook wall, that is.
Once a month, Wakeman hosts a “Brag About Your Blog” day on her FB page. It’s an opportunity for bloggers of all kinds—big, small, business, personal and everything in between—to let others know what they are passionate about.
By helping others get some visibility, she’s getting some as well. WE magazine found many of its 101 Women Bloggers To Watch in 2011 from Wakeman’s monthly events. Good blogging karma? You bet.
Check out the entire story here.
No Comment: Why Closing Blog Comments Sends The Wrong Message
I recently saw tweet from a new follower that linked to a seemingly interesting blog post, so I clicked through to check it out. The topic was why companies should hire U.S.-based copywriters rather than the cheaper offshore variety.
The post was well written and made a compelling argument, and the facts were peppered with some of the author’s personal experiences teaching English as a second language in Asia. While the blog was associated with a company that provides copywriting services, the post was educational and didn’t read as self-serving promotional material trying to drum up business.
I wanted to complement the author on crafting such a nice piece, so I scrolled down the page only to find the comments section closed. What? Really?
Confused, I went back to the top of the page to check publication date. Perhaps it was an older post from the archives? No, it was published just two weeks prior.
I don’t believe in ever closing comments—this is where some of the best content can be found (assuming the blog has an active and vocal readership base). This is why it was so completely baffling that there was no ability to have a dialogue with the author. And for a company that sells writing services, this sends the completely wrong message.
Disappointed, I left the website scratching my head…and feeling the immediate need to share the experience so you don’t make the same mistake.
There are many reasons to have a blog, and one should be to create dialogue between and within your audience. No one has all the answers, and a healthy discussion—even with points of view that are contrary—is essential for growth and change to happen. Denying yourself and your audience of this opportunity is simply bad business.
Takeaway: Content matters. This applies to content you write as well as the comments your audience shares. Don’t shun comments, even if what others write can potentially make you uncomfortable. Acknowledge their perspectives and agree to disagree.
Feedback: What do you think about blog comments? Do read them? Do you add to the conversation by posting your opinions? Keep the discussion going and share your ideas below!
Like this? Please share and leave a comment. Thank you!
Source: whycontentmatters.com
6 Tips For Creating Snackable Content
People are busy, and there’s more great content for consumption than ever before. But how can you entice readers to dig in? Make the content snackable.
This post from the folks at Hubspot offers six tips to creating bite-sized content to satisfy your audience’s appetite:
- Make your headline short and to the point.
- Use the introductory paragraph to develop an overarching structure.
- Structure your text with clear, actionable bullet points.
- Be aware of content quality beneath the fold.
- Make sure the content you create is worth the time.
- Consider how concise the objective your article or post is.
Enjoy the complete meal here.
Guest Blogging: How To Choose The Right Opportunity
Guest blogging is a great way to boost your visibility and grow your blog traffic. But with all the blogs being published today—and even more being launched—how do you choose the right opportunity?
Maria Reyes-McDavis (aka WebSuccessDiva) suggests looking in three places:
- Your Personal Network
- MyBlogGuest.com
- Niche Communities
Once you find potential candidates of interest, she recommends evaluating each blog’s traffic, engagement and place in the social ecosystem. The full post offers tools to help with the evaluation and tips for making the final selection.
Get all the details here.
How have you used guest blogging? Did you find it beneficial? What tips do you have. Continue the discussion in the comments below!
The Future Of Blogging & Social Media Marketing
In 2007, only 16% of U.S. companies used blogging for marketing purposes. Today, it’s 39%. And in 2012, it’s projected to hit 43%.
These are just some of the interesting factoids in this infographic from Michael Martine (aka Remarkablogger).
The most surprising (to me) is the 93% success rate of using Message Boards as well as YouTube, as these are both used much less than Facebook.
Smart marketers know how important is it to establish a presence in underutilized media that is growing in popularity—before their competition does. Will you capitalize on the opportunity?
10 Words That Should Never Appear On Your Website
What do “innovative,” “world-class” and “results oriented” have in common? They are all terms that should never see the light of day on your website, according to Jeff Haden in this post via BNET. These overused buzz words have lost all meaning and tell your audience nothing. He writes:
“Adjectives are great but only if specific, descriptive, and directly applicable to what you do. Use plain language, avoid generalities, and skip the hyperbole.”
To view the complete list—along with suggestions for better ways to describe your products and services click here.
Which word would I add to the list? It would have to be “leading”—as in the “leading” manufacturer of widgets. Who defined leading? What does that mean?
A better approach: stick to verifiable facts. If you have an industry rank, such as sales volume for example, then describing your company as a Top 25 manufacturer of widgets (as named by the Official Widget Association) would be appropriate.
What other offenders would you add to the list, and what suggestions do you have to remedy the issue? Share your ideas in the comments to continue the discussion.
Source: bnet.com
Why PR Pros Need Tumblr in Their Social Media Toolkits
I’m a big Tumblr fan. I began using the format a couple months ago as a companion to my Wordpress blog because I love the ability to follow bloggers I find interesting, like posts I find educational and reblog those articles I feel are important for my audience to access.
But Tumblr has implications far beyond being a cool blogging format, as noted in this post from Jennifer Maguire. She writes:
“If you are a public relations practitioner, you should know about Tumblr. Why? Today Tumblr received a major editorial endorsement Ragan’s PR Daily, an influential public relations trade. In the article Why PR Pros Need Tumblr in Their Social Media Toolkits, high-profile PR executive Pete Codella outlines many of the reasons why Tumblr is a no-brainer for public relations.”
She goes on to details the benefits. It’s a good read. Check it out here.
This Is Not The Page You’re Looking For
I admit it. I’m a bit of a Star Wars fan. So when I stumbled upon a story on entertaining 404 error pages and the lead image was of a stormtrooper…well, share I must.
To check out the other 34 humorous images that describe those pesky broken links, click here.
Source: Mashable
Content Curation: 8 Essential Tools You Need
Curating content can establish your expertise as a thought leader within your niche. But it can be time consuming…unless you have the right tools.
In this episode of Social Media Examiner TV, social media expert Mari Smith shares “8 Ways To Find Great Social Media Content.”
- Google Alerts
- Google Reader
- Facebook Friend Lists
- Twitter Lists
- HootSuite
- Paper.li
- Alltop
- Other Mobile Services
By employing these tactics, you’ll ease the burden of content curation.
What other tools do you use? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!
Source: socialmediaexaminer.com
Is It A Blog? Or Content Marketing?
A great point that hasn’t been discussed enough, courtesy of mischaverheijden:
“If you treat blogging as a hobby, then your blog is not content marketing. If you treat blogging as a way to establish your credibility with consumers, then your blog is really good content marketing. You know, the kind that captures leads and increases sales.”
