Category Archives: Get Better at Blogging

1
May

Three Things You Should Avoid When Creating a Video Blog Post

By: Guest Blogger

This guest article is written by Ashyia Hill

According to eMarketer and Hubspot.com, in 2012, there will be about 169.3 million online video viewers, and about 51.2 million Smartphone video viewers. Video is becoming a hot topic in the world of blogging, and it’s one that today’s bloggers need to pay attention to.

As readers become more and more overwhelmed with information, many will turn to the more passive option of viewing videos, rather than the more active, time-consuming option of reading blogs and online information. While you may not want to base your entire blog on video blog posts, you should definitely consider adding some of them to your blog.

It’s actually not that difficult to craft decent video blog posts using some basic technology and equipment. But most how-to’s out there are going to tell you what you should do, instead of what you should avoid! Knowing how to avoid major pitfalls, though, will make a big difference in your video blogging experience. With that said, here are three major things to avoid when it comes to video blog posts:


27
Mar

How to Write Content for the Web

By: Amber Ludwig, Website Development • Social Media Branding • Internet Marketing Coaching

If you’re a website or online newbie, you are probably on “information overload” about the what to do and what not to do online. This blog is dedicated to teaching you the right way to do things to get the best results. Do check back regularly for new content, tips and resources, or even easier, stay connected with me through my eMailing list or on social networks!

Today’s “how to” is all about writing content for the web. Below I have several tips that will help keep your readers engaged in what you have to say:

General Tips for Writing on the Web:

  • Short paragraphs are best. When people look at big blocks of text they get overwhelmed and don’t want to read it.
  • Stay conversational! It’s great to write how you talk because people feel like they can connect with you, that you are authentic, and they will want to work with you as a result. Writing for the web is not about being a crazed perfectionist. The online world is a forgiving one so just write and get your message OUT!

1
Mar

Beginner Blogging Basics – Part II: Continuing Success

By: Amber Ludwig, Website Development • Social Media Branding • Internet Marketing Coaching

This is a guest article written by #1 bestselling author Pamela Zimmer:

 

In my last post, I discussed getting your blog up and running. Why are you blogging? What is it about? How do you get started? Hopefully you’ve now had a chance to move forward in your own blog creation. Let’s assume you now at least have your blog generated, your categories set up, the theme customized, and (maybe) you’ve posted one or two times. What’s next?

Be Consistent.

When you’re first beginning, it might seem overwhelming to imagine yourself writing a new post every day – so don’t. Start small and manageable, like once a week; just be consistent in how often you post. Don’t worry if your posts aren’t the Holy Grail of the blogging world. As long as you are true to why you started your blog in the first place, and keep your posts authentic, then you have little to worry about.


28
Feb

Beginner Blogging Basics – Part I: Getting Started

By: Guest Blogger

This is a guest article written by #1 bestselling author Pamela Zimmer:

 

I turn on my computer, log into Google, and with coffee in hand I stare at the blinking cursor in the search box, wondering what to type. I want to start a blog, but I have no idea where to begin. Does this sound like you? This was me, a little over one year ago. I had ideas, I had passion, I had no clue. If you can still relate, then keep reading as I’m going to share with you some beginner blogging basics.

Why are you blogging?

The first question you have to answer can only be answered by you. What is your intention for you blog? Is it solely as a personal, creative outlet? Is it to generate income? Is it to help build and supplement your business? For me, the answer is all of the above, but it didn’t start off that way.


30
Dec

Are You Really Connecting with Your Audience?

By: Amber Ludwig, Website Development • Social Media Branding • Internet Marketing Coaching

One of the toughest parts about running a business online is that it is a challenge to truly connect with your audience. For example, YOU. Right this minute you’re reading this post and I’m hoping I can make a connection. I am hoping you see there is a person writing this who wants to help you, wants you to succeed online. But it’s hard because all you see are words that any Joe Schmoe could have written. So how can people see your heart, your intent?

I have listed 3 ways below to help push you outside of the no-touch zone with your audience:


29
Nov

3 Tricks to Develop Blog Post Content People Want to Read + 1 More

By: Amber Ludwig, Website Development • Social Media Branding • Internet Marketing Coaching

We’ve seen it time and time again where we type in a search phrase into Google and an old, outdated blog pops up. (Well, that won’t last anymore, click here to see why, but that’s the way it has been until now.) A blog that someone started, wrote a few posts and bailed. Why they don’t just tear down the site from the Internet altogether, I don’t know.

My sunny theory: I don’t think the blog owner got lazy, but rather, they didn’t know what to say! How many times have you thought, “I should write a blog post, it’s been a while..” yet you still don’t get it done. You worry if what you write will be what people want to read… will they care? will they share it? will they comment, or not?

I say, forget the noise and just write. People WILL care. You WILL help others. And the more you write, the more people will share your content and comment on it.


14
Nov

21 Questions to Evaluate Your Efforts of Building Your Online Platform

By: Amber Ludwig, Website Development • Social Media Branding • Internet Marketing Coaching

Every once in a while I like to pose a series of questions to offer a ‘big picture’ view, instead of lasering in on a specific topic and teaching you about it. Today is such a day.

There is a TON of valuable information in this post. All of the links open in a new window and the content will laser in on that topic. I invite you to spend some time here and really take advantage of this FREE platform I’ve developed just for you.

For those of you who are just getting started online, this post would be excellent for you to print out and keep by your computer as you
build your online platform (your website, social networks, leads – it is all-encompassing of your touch-points online). For those of you who think they are on a great track online, this may be a good post to see what has slipped between the cracks or what area you could build up for better results.


8
Nov

To All Those Newbie Bloggers Who Don’t Yet Believe the Power of Blogging….

By: Amber Ludwig, Website Development • Social Media Branding • Internet Marketing Coaching

I, like many of you, just heard about Google+Pages. Being the total geek I am, I instantly raced to Google+ and set up my own business page. Check out my new Google+ Page (and I hope you add it to your circles!).

This post isn’t about Google+ Pages, but I do intend to write one once there’s a little more to share about it. For now you can add your description, photo, same ‘ole — but I still of course suggest you set one up for yourself!

What’s fun (and sometimes frustrating) about playing with online tools is that I feel like I’m living in a pin ball machine. My attention pings from one place to another and shortly my brain hurts and I feel a little overwhelmed – information overload (yes it happens to all of us, even those that do this for a living!)


2
Nov

Are You Going to the Small Biz Success Summit?? (255 seats sold already…)

By: Amber Ludwig, Website Development • Social Media Branding • Internet Marketing Coaching

Earlier this week I got an email from Michael Stelzner (founder of the great SocialMediaExaminer.com) about the upcoming Small Biz Success Summit 2012. Tickets just went on sale Tuesday, Nov 1 I believe and already they’ve sold 225 tickets in it’s first day!! Here’s what I read:

“Social Media Examiner presents the web’s largest fully online small business social media conference, Small Biz Success Summit 2012.  Discover how to quickly attract quality customers, build loyal fans and grow your revenue with social media.

Here’s why this summit should interest you:

  1. 100% small business focus: No big businesses and no speakers who target big businesses. This is fully for the tiny business.
  2. This it totally new content: Broadcast new media, Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, video marketing, blogging plus search and much more. Social media is always in flux and this event will cover what you need to know now. If you’re working off what you learned six months ago or longer, you are ages behind.

14
Sep

How to Build Your Online Platform

By: Amber Ludwig, Website Development • Social Media Branding • Internet Marketing Coaching

You have a powerful message inside. You’re bursting at the seams to get it out. You have endless inspiration and ideas. There’s only one problem – it takes time to build your online platform.

So many people have this dilemma. The next step is to rush, rush through logo and website design, rush to add content to the site, rush to turn that sign over to read “Open for business!”

My suggestion? Ask your web developer (how do you know if your web person is any good? click here) to put up a blog with a decent free theme. Someplace you can go to and start blogging now. You don’t have to have your logo done, web design done – nada. Just get “something” up and start the race. The key is to write content while you build the site – then add the design and branding in within the next month or two when you’re all set. This way you generate traffic NOW instead of waiting another two months (that would be super frustrating for you).