Business Blogging - How to Build A Better Blog

Negative Blog Comments: How do You Handle Them?

New clients almost always ask this question: what do I do if someone leaves a negative comment on my blog?

A recent post by Jeremiah Owyang answers the question of negative comments beautifully and completely reflects The Blog Squad's beliefs as well.

A negative comment is an opportunity.

An opportunity to learn from your customer/client/subscriber/reader about a potential problem in your business.

An opportunity to clarify your position.

An opportunity to get valuable feedback and improve your business.

An opportunity to improve your relationship with the commenter and others who may be reading the comment.

An opportunity to correct a mistake.

An opportunity to take the high road, acknowledge possible issues and correct them.

Making Money and Selling with Your Blog

I was going through some old docs and found one with "blog post ideas" that I never posted. Among them was a link to a good article on Selling With A Blog, on Practical Ecommerce. The article includes 5 tips for successful business blogging, nothing you haven't heard before, but if you're new to business blogging, make sure to read and memorize and implement! Here's the "cliff notes" version:

1. Write often
2. Write about subjects related to your business
3. Watch for typos and poor grammar. Proofread your posts.
4. Allow people to comment
5. Make sure readers can subscribe for updates

Last year Patsi and I presented at BlogHer Business and hosted a round table discussion about how to make money with your blog. There are many, many ways and though for a service professional or small business we advocate showcasing your expertise to attract business, you can create a revenue stream with ads, affiliate links and more.

I'm pretty sure we posted the handout from that event last year, but to make it easy on you, here it is again: Download How to Make Money With Your Blog. We include a chart with various sites you can explore to find the most appropriate monetization system for you and your business goals.

Where Are All the Good Blogs?... a newcomer's lament

A long time client called wanting to take the leap into business blogging. His complaint: " Where are all the good blogs? All the blogs I see in my field are scattered, unprofessional and untargeted!"

I couldn't agree more. In the rush to be first on their block with a blog, many otherwise competent professionals have become borderline boring. They start off great, then get off topic, forget that readers are short on time and brain bandwidth, and throw up anything as a post.

Blogging is brilliant because it can bring in business quickly and cheaply - if you do it right. That means spending some time on it. Think before you go off and post a replay of somebody else's stuff. And do your research, find out what's missing and what readers want to know.

One thing this newcomer is doing right - and all potential biz bloggers should do this first - is researching other blogs in their niche. Find out what others are doing, then do it better or different.

Blogging as Part of Your Business Plan

Mary Larsen is a smart and savvy business person.  A few months ago we set up a blog for Mary's consulting business Grow Your Design Biz. While she was working with us, she was also writing her newly published book, How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Redesign, Redecorating & Home Staging Business (that's a mouthful!).

We received copies of her book this week and were very pleased to see so much attention paid not only to using the Internet to market a business, but nearly 3 pages devoted to blogging! She even includes a link to this blog. Thanks, Mary, you get it!

While I'm not looking to start a redesign business, if I were, I would get a copy of this book. Mary has gone into amazing depth about what's required to start and build a successful business. She's even included a CD with dozens of forms and a template for a business plan.

We wish Mary tons of success with her book, blog and business.

Drive Blog Traffic on the Weekend

There's a good case study on Marketing Sherpa about how to maintain traffic to your blog on the weekends, a time when traffic generally drops.

One blogger bucked that trend with a content strategy that reflects the spirit of the weekend, and traffic is up 400%. Leads for the company have increased, and they've solidified their position as a thought leader.

Read it today because free access to the case study ends on Feb. 20.

Social Media Telesummit Starts on February 20

Social Media and Social Networking are no longer considered fads. To have a super successful business in this day and age, you must be willing and able to leverage online tools like blogs, video, podcasting, and social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace.

If this feels a tad overwhelming, I don't blame you. There's a lot of information to keep up with and how do you make an intelligent decision about what tools to use for YOUR business?

That's where the Social Media Telesummit comes in. Beginning February 20, for 8 days, you can learn from the pros in the social media arena all about blogging (yep, The Blog Squad will be there presenting on Blogging and Branding), podcasting, Second Life, social networking, etc., etc. (I've posted the schedule below).  The idea behind these presentations is that they are action oriented, how-to, 45 minute talks which includes Q&A from the audience.

Leesa Barnes, the brains and organizer behind the Telesummit has done a fantastic job putting it all together and we are honored to be part of the show.  We did a 60 minutes preview call with Leesa about 7 Social Networking Tools  - listen here.

Check out the list of presenters and topics and then register today.

Blogs Build Your Business: You Want More Proof?

We love sharing proof that business blogging works. Last week we told you about our client, Tim Wright who blogs at Culture to Engage and his success commenting on other blogs. Earlier this week Tim sent another email letting us know about more success he attributes to blogging:

The good news just keeps on happenin'!

Thanks to my three-a-week commitment and a number of your other recommended tactics (like commenting on others' blogs, joining cyber neighborhoods and networks, spicing up the titles, working on keywords and phrases), I had this great thing occur y'day:

An e-mail from an online company that does audio conferences to educate the HR market. They needed a standin for an audio conference scheduled for next Wednesday. When they started searching (God bless Google!), my Culture to Engage blog appeared.

Result? I'm standing in next Wednesday and I'm offering an audio conference all my own the day before.

And is it remunerative? (Or as my granddad would say, "Does it bring in the bucks?")

You betcha.

One audio conference: $750.
Affiliate to sell their follow-up "hard" product: 20%
Visibility among their audience: priceless.

Have I said lately, "You ROCK!"?

Tim Wright, Culture to Engage Blog

The Blog Squad: Video from Blog World Expo

Just found a video of The Blog Squad from Blog World Expo. Shot by John Gaudio.

Blog Squad's 3rd Annual Valentine's Day Sale Begins Now

If you're like The Blog Squad, you love being self-employed and working for the best boss in the world! Why not show your business how much you love it? Give yourself a little break...

Today marks The Blog Squad's 3rd annual Valentine's Day Sale - one day only: Save 81% on our teleseminar package.

8 Teleseminars with Online Marketing Experts, 2 Bonuses, 2 Chances to Win and $568 in Savings.

Show yourself a little love and invest in learning Internet marketing with our expert teleseminar series library at 81% off the regular price.

Here's what you will learn:

• How to gain visibility through pitching bloggers
• How to mount a viral campaign with a blog
• How to write and market your book with a blog
• The secrets that make an info product sell like hot cakes
• Advanced writing and marketing techniques with lead-generating white papers
• New ideas to fast-track your success

And we're offering a couple of bonuses and a drawing to win a free blog makeover. Even if you've already attended some of these classes, it's worth having the entire library and getting the free bonuses.

All the details are here: http://www.theblogsquad.net/VDay/2008/

Note: the first 10 people to invest in this package get an extra special bonus!

Business Blogging Video: Blogs Have Leveled the Playing Field

Going through my video files a few days ago, I realized I never posted this video that Patsi shot of me talking about how business blogs have leveled the playing field for professionals and small businesses.  It was shot last year in New York when we were at a conference.  Comments?