Business Blogging - How to Build A Better Blog

Business Blogs Keep on Coming

Businesses are really starting to jump on the blogging bandwagon as they begin to see the benefits of connecting in a less formal way with their clients and prospects.  Have you joined the blogosphere yet?

Business Embraces Blog

Link Building and Blogs

Last week we had the good fortune to interview Lee Odden of TopRank Online Marketing. (Subscribe to Savvy eBiz Tips and you'll get a summary on Tuesday!)  Lee mentioned a post he had been working on about Link Building for Blogs in which he discusses, in quite a bit of detail, the importance of inbound links to drive traffic to your blog.

Lee offers a list of linking strategies that are particular to blogs like trackbacks and commenting.  In addition, he encourages bloggers to look at the bigger picture of getting links back to your blog and lists several ways that have been used successfully on "traditional" websites.  Check out Lee's post with the link back I gave him above!

You can also get the audio program (mp3) at Conversations with Experts.

“Doing Blogs:” What Does The Blog Squad Really Do?

What do a doctor, a lawyer, a double Ph.D Stanford Fellow, and a psychologist have in common?

They all work with The Blog Squad on making their blogs more effective.

Okay, so we know blogs aren't really rocket science. You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to open an account and set one up. That’s why they are so popular, anybody, including your kids can “do a blog.”

So some kind person asked me gently the other day (I could tell what he was thinking!), “Ah, you do blogs, and… people pay you for that?”

Here’s what happens when we’re working with our creative and super-intelligent people:

Blook = Blog + Book

If you're still not convinced that a blog is a powerful way to write, publish and market your book, think again.  In a recent article on BusinessWeek Online, an article called "Blooks" are in Bloom, discusses the impact blogging is having on the publishing industry and creating opportunities for first time authors.

Check out our Blog to Book Project if you would like more information about how you can take advantage of this emerging trend.  We also have a free Blog to Book 7 Step MiniCourse.

3/4ths of American are 'Net Users

Internet usage in the US is at an all time high, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

The U.S. online population now numbers 73 percent of adults, or 147 million.The figures represent an increase from 66 percent, or 133 million adults, in January 2005, according to  Pew.

But only 42 percent of all adults, or 84 million, have the home high-speed connections important for viewing video and treating the Internet as an always-on reference. Looking only at home Internet users, 62 percent have broadband.

Blognoggle.com - 100 Best Biz Blogs in One Click

Thanks to Bud Bilanich, the Common Sense Guy, and congratulations to him for being part of the 100 best business blogs featured on blognoggling.com.

He alerted us to this site, where owner Jerry Bowles, Mr. Blognoggle, monitors -- he calls it "shadowing" -- 100 business blogs and reposts articles that he believes will have wide appeal to business people who read blogs.

This is a great time saver and a protection from "screensucking," whereby you can lose a day or so looking for good biz blogs. Topics are Leadership and Change, Ideas & Innovation, Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, all the hot ones, they are there. Have fun "blogsucking."

Congress, Big Biz and Freedom of the Internet

I'm not an alarmist, but I'm alarmed at the message I'm seeing on blogs and newsletters about pending legislation that threatens the neutrality of the Internet. Neither am I a fear-monger, who believes that all big corporations are by their nature evil.

But our colleague Andy Wibbels sent out this message today, and it's worth a read. Pay attention and do what you can to help.

I'm breaking from the usual blogging tips of my newsletter to bring you a public service announcement crucial to anybody who does business online.

The foundation of business online is open and free access to the complete internet: no limits, no fences, no boundaries.

This is called 'Net Neutrality.' Over the past two decades, the internet has become the underlying infrastructure for billions of dollars of business - as essential as electricty in powering the global economy.

Now, imagine if the eletric company made your refrigerator run slower if it wasn't a Whirlpool brand.

::::: Online Business is Endangered

Recently, telecom companies in the United States have lobbied for greater control of the internet which would strike down 'Net Neutrality' - the very foundation of the internet's success.

As a small business owner online, the leveling effect of the internet is key to keeping competitive. If you can't play on the same level as the existing larger companies, you won't be able to make an impact.

- Imagine your ISP charging you more to buy products unless you use a preferred provider.
- Imagine your email being delayed while preferred customers who have paid more get faster service.

It seems crazy - but it's going to happen. Unless you act now.

::::: You Must Act Today

My Evening with the Blogging Systems Boys

As I mentioned yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting my blogging buddy Paul Chaney last night at the swanky Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.  Along for the meeting was Richard Nacht, Founder of Blogging Systems.  I tell you, blogging has been good to these guys!

We had a fabulous dinner at The Blvd. restaurant at the hotel and talked about blogging, business, the Internet, ecommerce, books and so much more for more than 3 hours.  It was a blast.  I got to learn about their book that they're putting the finishing touches on: Realty Blogging: How Real Estate Agents Can Boost Sales with Blog Marketing.  Due to be published in November.

  Here's me and Paul (a little blurry, but you get the idea!)

Richard Nacht and Paul Chaney of Blogging Systems are on the right.  If you're a realtor, it's time you moved on this technology and these are the guys to help you create first-mover advantage in your community.

Blog Cruise

I've been in email discussion with Jim Turner of One by One Media about the Blogonomics Cruise coming up in October.  There are some dynamite speakers -- "A-List" bloggers who'll be presenting on business blogging during the 5 day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Cozumel.

Blogonomics Bloggers:

Robert Scoble of Scobleizer.com (author of Naked Conversations)
B.L. Ochman of What's Next Online (great PR blogger!)
Jeremy Wright of b5media
Andy Wibbels of Instant Global Impact (author of the just-published Blogwild!)
Nick Wilson of Performancing
Darren Rowse of Probloggernet (he makes 6 figures from his blogging)
John Nardini of Denali Flavors
Steve Hall of Adrants
Toby Bloomberg of Diva Marketing
Scott Goldblatt: Olympic Gold Medalist
Tris Hussey of Qumana Software
Jim Turner of One By One Media

Blog Squad Interview: Free on Thursday

The Blog Squad Interviewed by
    Business Coach Mike Jay

Topic: Using a blog to create and publish your book

Thursday, April 27, 2006
12:00 PM EST - No charge

Join us at: 865-362-4050 Pin 1251#  and find out the
latest and greatest from these two mavens of execution.
http://www.cprforthesoul.com/interviews/blogsquad