Business Blogging - How to Build A Better Blog

Bloggers - Are You Using Video Yet?

I'm coming back to the video blogging theme because the trend continues to grow with no end in site.

In a report out this month from Nielsen, they report that since November 2007, video audiences have OUTNUMBERED email audiences. I was shocked to read that.  I mean, EVERYONE reads email so to think that more people are viewing online video than reading email is amazing. Contemplate that for a minute.

And video isn't difficult to create and distribute widely on the 'net. Did you see the video I created using animoto? I simply uploaded pictures, picked a music track from a list they provide and pushed a button. You don't even need to be in the video if you're camera-shy.

In the home study course Lou Bortone and I created called Online Video Made Easy, we go into detail about equipment, software and distribution sites. All available for little or no money. But here's the "readers digest" version:

Equipment - Camera
Flip Digital Video Camera
Web Cam

Video Creation Software
Animoto (web based, free 30 second videos)
Camtasia (for screenshot videos - top of the line)
Jing Project (free)

Video Distribution
Tubemogul (free - upload to more than a dozen video sites)

Did you know that YouTube is the second largest search engine? That means well-optimized videos come up high in search engine results pages. After all, Google owns YouTube so it stands to reason that videos on their site would do well. Yet another good reason to create your own channel with videos on YouTube as well as the other big video site players. Here's one of my YouTube Channels.

One of my mentors has advised me to step up the video production. Nothing elaborate or long; short, content rich videos that can help position me as a leader in the blogging world.

Are you using video in your online marketing mix? If not, what's stopping you?

Related Post
Engage Your Readers in Multiple Way

Business Blogging Tip: What's the Blog's Purpose? (Video)

What's the purpose of your business blog? This is a critical question to answer BEFORE you dive into the blogosphere.

Before you start a blog identify your ideal reader, your goals, who else is in your niche, and a compelling name that reflects the content. Having this information clear at the outset will keep you on track as your blog evolves.

Blogging Success Stories Wanted!

Do you have a business success story that you can attribute to blogging? I frequently speak at conferences, on teleseminars and give interviews and always love to share success stories from blogging. I would love to share YOUR story - with full attribution and link to your blog, of course.

If you have success in your business that you can directly attribute your blog, let's hear it! Some things to consider:

Did your revenues increase as a result of your blog, like in the case of Mark Siegel?

Did you get a paid speaking gig like Tim Wright?

Has traffic to your website increased?

Does your blog attract new clients like it does for Dr. Eben Davis?

Has your blog helped you gain international exposure, get more consulting jobs, attract more speaking gigs, and develop joint venture partnerships like it has for Bud Bilanich?

If you have a blogging success story, please post it in the comments below and don't forget to include a link to your blog!

Remember, be specific about the results you got with your blog. Here are a few questions to consider:

1. What was your business like BEFORE you started a blog?
2. What happened after you started the blog; what was the first sign you knew it would work?
3. What specific results have you experienced?
4. What would you tell someone who was considering starting a blog?

I look forward to hearing your blogging success stories and introducing you and your business to my audiences (with permission of course!).

Blog on!

More blogging testimonials..

Learn what smart marketers are doing...

If you're not reading Biz Tips Blog, I want to make sure you don't miss this big announcement...

Social media tools like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are transforming businesses by providing amazing exposure, tons of traffic, partnership opportunities and quality leads. Do you know how to market your business with social media? 

The great news is you don't need to be a techno-geek or twenty-something to use and benefit from social media.  Discover precisely how to use social media to grow your business during this economic slump at Social Media Success Summit 2009 -a professional development conference for marketers and business owners. 

Leading experts Gary Vaynerchuk (Wine Library TV), Darren Rowse (Problogger), Mari Smith (Facebook guru), Jason Alba (wrote the book on LinkedIn), Ann Handley (MarketingProfs), Brian Clark (Copyblogger), Chris Garrett (Authority Blogger) and me have joined forces to share our closely guarded secrets to social media success at this LIVE online summit.

No travel required.  This online summit allows you to attend sessions, meet the experts and network with peers, all from the comfort of your home or office. This event is sure to sell out quickly. 

Learn how to qualify for a $200 savings (expires May 14th) and lock in your key to success.  Visit and get an immediate gift valued at $39 entitled "Achieving Social Media Marketing Success (Secrets From Three Successful Marketers)."

P.S. In the first few hours that registration was open, over 80 seats were sold. That's pretty darn good for an event that doesn't start for over a month! So you know this is a hot ticket.

Funny Blog Authors Laugh all the Way to the Bank

 I had a good time this weekend looking at some pretty silly blogs...and guess what. they are ones that have landed big book deals with publishers. So don't scoff. These blog authors are laughing themselves all the way to the bank. The kicker is that most of them get their content from blog readers...they don't even write original stuff.

Thanks to this NY Times article, I had a few chuckles with these sites:

• Postcards From Yo Momma 
• This Is Why You’re Fat 
• I Can Has Cheezburger?
• Stuff White People Like 
• Pets Who Want to Kill Themselves

Apparently certain themes attract millions of eyeballs and publishers are betting they will love the material so much they'll shell out a few bucks to buy a printed book. Who says we're in a recession?

Trendpedia - tracking trends on blogs

Just found a new resource for bloggers looking for content inspiration and who want to stay on top of the trends in their niche...Trendpedia.

This looks like a great site for finding out what's hot, what bloggers are writing about. You enter the keyword or search time you want to track and click the Search button.

The system works on your query and then pops up a graph showing you how many posts with your search term and provides a list of links to the blog posts. Very cool. Here's a sample search I did using the term running AND marathon:

This is a great way to find new bloggers who may be influencers in your niche; a great way to stay on top of what's going on, as well as to keep your content pipeline full of new ideas and other posts you can link to and share.

I'm always fascinated at how I find useful resources like this by following the rabbit trails. In this case, Michael Stelzner tweeted a link to an article called 13 Pragmatic Social Media Marketing Approaches.  Trendpedia was not mentioned in the article...it was mentioned in a comment on the post.  Another good reason to read and comment on other blogs in your niche!

Easy Tip for Creating Blog Content - Video

Having trouble coming up with content for your blog? Write as if you're writing an email to your ideal client. Check out many more tips for creating blog content.

Have an easy tip for creating blog content? Click on the Comments link to share your tip!

The Undisturbed Life: Featured Blog Launch

 As The Blog Squad, we are privileged to work with many amazing clients who have so much to offer their own clients. We recently helped two professionals launch a blog full of meaning and insights. We are proud to announce...

The Undisturbed Life: Awaken to Your Birthright by Larry LaPrade and Dan Moren. Larry and Dan have many years experience working with people to help them discover their authentic personal essence. They offer workshops and coaching services. The best way to discover their own inspiring essence is to visit and read some of their most recent posts:

• Confucius and the Pushup
• It is just a pushup
• Information - Exabyte's and Lawn Mowing
• Motivation - Expressing Intrinsic Qualities
• Motivation to Express

Larry and Dan offer insights and inspiration for anyone who wants to experience a deeply satisfying life on many levels. Be sure to visit and subscribe to The Undistrubed Life, especially the post Our Unique Approach. Here's an excerpt:

The Undisturbed Life is a life of abundance. People living in this way enjoy rich, deeply purposeful lives. Their lives consistently move forward, growing and evolving. Attracting intimacy and abundance, they are powerfully effective individuals making full use of their unique gifts.

How To Mobilize Your Blog Audio Replay

Yesterday I interviewed Kim Dushinski, author of The Mobile Marketing Handbook. The info she shared was so good, I decided to give away the audio to everyone, even if you did not register for the call. I wanted to get this audio to you ASAP since the weekend is upon us.

How to Mobilize Your Blog (and why you need to!)

During the interview Kim shared several resources that will enable you to get your blog mobile-friendly in less than 10 minutes -- and they're free! She reviewed the pros and cons of each site.

After the call Kim contacted me and let know she forgot to tell you about the BONUS she has for anyone who invests in her Mobile Marketing Action Plan (a steal, if you ask me) by Monday, April 13.

Kim is including two detailed tutorials for WinkSite and MoFuse, sites that will help you optimize your blog for mobile devices. These tutorials are NOT usually included with the Mobile Marketing Action Plan.

Plus I included a link to the mobile business card platform we talked about.

This is good stuff and essential to pay attention to. Did you know that 4 billion people world-wide use mobile devices??? Think of the opportunity!

OK, listen to the audio and TAKE ACTION. At the very least, get your blog mobile-friendly. It's free and
easy.

http://www.biztipsblog.com/how-to-mobilize-your-blog.html

GolfAsian Blog: 3 Years Old & Still Posting

Just have to share this email (with permission of course) that arrived in our email box last night, from client Mark Siegel.  We frequently point to Mark Siegel's business blog success when we present to groups and we love that he sends us unsolicited progress reports from time to time. Here's Mark's latest business blog success story...

Hi Denise and Patsi,

The Thailandgolfzone is 3 years old today and still remains the single best investment I have made in marketing and client communications, by a long mile. From your excellent set-up work and encouragement my blog has grown to over 387 posts (and counting), generated new leads that resulted in $2,000,000 US dollars (yes 2 Million!) in new business, and even catapulted me into becoming the “Thailand Golf Guru.”

For the latter I have been asked to write for Asian Golf Monthly, a major golf publication here, invited to speak on golf tourism at the Asian Golf Business Summit, interviewed by Forbes magazine along side of billionaire Herbert Kohler, and even contracted by the Thai government to be Thailand’s golf ambassador to the world! Wow, now the fun really starts!

Who would have imagined that a small one man operation like Golfasian armed with great service and a Blog Squad business blog and a customized newsletter to get the word out could have achieved so much success and fame in just 3 short years, and this is in spite of the world’s economic and equity crisis.

Well once again I have to thank you, Denise and Patsi, for your initial consultations, advice, and encouragement. I am 100% convinced that without your assistance on the Thailandgolfzone, these accomplishments over the past 3 years would have not been realized.

Keep up the great work, count me in as a true believer in your services, and feel free to use me as a reference for business blogs as well as your current venture, social networking for business success.

Best Regards,

Mark Siegel
Managing Director
Golfasian Co. Ltd.
+66-(0)2-714-8470
http://www.golfasian.com,   http://www.vietnamgolfvacation.com, and  http://www.thailandgolfzone.com

The golf experts in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia!