Posts Tagged ‘blogging tips’

Blog Mistake: Treating Your Blog Like a Press Center

Monday, December 13th, 2010

According to Mashable.com, the number one mistake that business bloggers make is to treat their blog as an extension of their current press center. Repeat after me: Your blog is not the place for press releases. Blogging is a conversation and it offers a way for your customers to connect with your business on a completely new level. Press releases, on the other hand, are the exact opposite. They’re impersonal, they’re self promotional, and most readers don’t trust them. If you use your blog to republish press releases your customers will have no reason to keep reading and they’ll also likely not trust your content.

How to Avoid: First, don’t ever put out a press release on your blog. You can use your blog to make product or other business announcements, but do so with original writing and in a more casual voice. Second, do use your blog to write about things other than your core business. Share your thoughts on your industry, share insights into the day-to-day work life and processes at your company, and provide tips and tricks you have learned during your time in business.

Tip: Blog on a Regular Basis

Monday, November 29th, 2010

According to Mashable.com, a common mistake people make is not blogging regularly. They write:  Think about the blogs you read on a regular basis — how many of them publish only sporadically? Most successful blogs put out new content at least a couple of times per week and try to stick to a regular schedule. Consistently putting out quality content will keep readers returning and over time it will help you build a community and turn your customers into fans.

How to Avoid: Blogging regularly isn’t easy, so to avoid burning out, brainstorm editorial ideas ahead of time. If you plan to put out new posts every Tuesday and Friday, for example, try not to start writing Tuesday’s post on Tuesday morning. Get other people at your company involved so that one person isn’t shouldering the entire blogging load, and even consider sourcing content from your customers. Remember that anything can provide fodder for a good blog post, so pay attention to the things you read or see on other blogs, newspapers, magazines, or television.

Is Blogging a Conversation?

Monday, September 13th, 2010

Mashable.com has reported before, blogging is a conversation, and not allowing it to occur on your blog is a mistake. It’s true that blog comments can open you up to criticism, but blogging is an unparalleled opportunity to connect with your customers. You’ll get a lot more out of blogging if you enable — and even encourage — your customers to respond to what you write.

How to Avoid: Obviously the first thing you need to do is enable commenting on your business blog. But beyond that, you need to remember that the conversation is two-way. Get in there and respond to the comments readers leave on your blog and you’ll be more likely to develop a community around your writing that can help turn your customers into fans who will evangelize your products and services and provide you with quality feedback. You should also participate in the conversation on other blogs in your industry by leaving comments on posts elsewhere around the blogosphere. That will help you to establish your “blogging brand” and bring new readers your way.

What Should You Blog About?

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Every week people ask me, “Jenn, what should I blog about?”  Well, here are some ideas to get you going:

  1. Blog about real life stories.  People love to connect with other people, so keep it real.
  2. Blog about FAQ.  No one knows your business like you do.  So address one FAQ at a time and offer your expert opinion.
  3. If you see an article that supports your industry, blog about it.  Make sure you give credit to the original writer and then add your own story to it.  A good way to find articles about your industry is to set up “Google Alerts” and you will receive a daily email about the topics you want to hear more about.
  4. When you are writing, direct your message to the type of client you want to attract.  Are you writing to business owners or customers?
  5. Use good content.  Remember, it is always about content.

Jennifer Hampton, CEO,  Superior Virtual Services

What Should You Expect with Blogging?

Monday, August 9th, 2010

All of the top social media professionals have reported over and over, success in blogging happens over time.

Mashable.com reported: Blogging isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. Your blog won’t be an overnight success, and for the first few months it might feel like you’re writing for no one. It can take time to build up your readership and have a regular community of people who participate on your blog. Don’t expect immediate returns from your blog and do expect to put in a lot of hard work.

How to Avoid: Set attainable goals and realize that you’re in it for the long haul. Don’t cancel your blogging efforts after three months — give it at least a year of regularly putting out quality, original content. And make sure that your blog is easy to find, and that your readers are able to easily comment and share posts with others.