Business Blogging - How to Build A Better Blog

How to use Photo Dropper to Add Flickr Images to your Blog

Do you use images in your blog posts? I do, sometimes, when I'm not too lazy to hunt down the perfect image or grab a relevant screenshot. Lately I've been using Shutterstock because they were kind enough to give me a trial account so I would try them out.

I also use Flickr (this post shows you how to find photos on Flickr). Yesterday as I was going down rabbit trails, I discovered a tool - plug-in - for Wordpress called Photo Dropper. This tool makes it super simple to find and add photos from Flickr to your blog posts. Check out my 4:46 min video see how simple it is. (Click here if you can't see the video in your reader.)

If you're using a blog platform other than Wordpress, then you'll have to add photos manually, as far as I know.

What's your favorite source for images to illustrate your blog posts?

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Authors - How to Use Blogs and Social Media to Promote Your Book

To me, authors and blogging are a natural fit, yet many, many authors I know are not blogging, don't want to blog or are afraid to dilute their writing time with blogging. Yet, it's such a powerful tool to build an audience for your books.

In the last few days I've come across several articles, blog posts and events that demonstrate how blogging, and social marketing can help you build an audience of raving fans and book buyers.

The is a "link post" as I'm simply providing 5 links to resources I think you can learn from or model for creating a successful book launch.

1. From the New York Times: Blog's Readers Enjoy a Good Whodunit
(how a group of authors share a blog and support each other's writing and new book promotions)

Blogging Buddy Groups Now Forming - Social Success Story

I have to share a great story with you that demonstrates the power of social networking. Recently I posted about 5 Ways a Blogging Buddy Can Help You Blog More Consistently. Since my blog content is syndicated to my Facebook wall, the post was immediately published there as well. I also posted a question on my wall asking how often people were posting on their blog. The question generated over 30 responses.

The powerful part is that people on my Facebook page started connecting with one another seeking out blogging buddies. A couple of days ago I got this note from Eydie Stumpf, the first to post her request, about her experience with the blogging buddy conversation:

BlogWorld and New Media Expo - THE Event for Content and Connection

BlogWorld and New Media Expo is just around the corner (well, October, it seems like it's coming up fast). With a number of projects keeping me occupied, I nearly forgot to let you know that the early bird registration fee (save nearly half price) expires on July 15. Use EBIRD to save 20% on the current reg fee.

If you use a blog or social media to market your business, then this is one event I encourage you to attend if at all possible. There's an entire day devoted to social marketing and yesterday I found out there is an entire Problogger track being run by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett. That's worth the price of admission alone. When you consider these two live in Australia and the UK, respectively, then having the opportunity to work with them live, in person for 4 hours is pretty awesome and will most definitely accelerate your blogging skills.

Other tracks include: content, monetization, real estate, milblogging (military blogging), food, sports and travel. The schedule is not posted yet so I can't tell you everything that is being covered yet.

Being held October 14-16, this is the 4th year for BlogWorld Expo. I've attended every year, spoken at two, and have a proposal in for this year. I wouldn't miss this event because the content, the access, the Expo, the vibe, the people, the parties - are all outstanding.

I'll be there and hope to meet you there too. If you're going, please let me know so we can meet up for a coffee or meal. Check out the details now, register and reserve your hotel (it's being held at the Mandalay Bay Conference Center so you want to get a room there if they aren't fully booked yet).

Register for BlogWorld before 7/15 and SAVE up to $595 off your Full Access Pass!

NOTE: I am an affiliate partner for BlogWorld Expo. If you register through my link, I make a small commission. I would recommend this event whether or not I get a commission. It's one of top events I attend every year.

30 Day Blogging Challenge - Interview with Connie Ragen Green

Writing and blogging challenges have become popular over that last couple of years. Not only do they help you hone your writing skills, participation can generate a lot of buzz, traffic, visibility and opportunities for your business.

One of the most popular blogging challenges that I'm aware of is run by Connie Ragen Green. During a private Q&A call for Online Visibility Secrets students, Connie talked about how her blogging challenges have helped bloggers double traffic to their sites. I've known Connie since 2005 when she first started blogging and decided this was a good time to do a quick interview with her about her 30 Day Blogging Challenges. 

You can listen to my 20 minute interview with Connie Ragen Green or read the transcript below.

Amazon Kindle Provides A Revenue Stream for Your Blog

When the price on the Amazon Kindle dropped by $70 recently, I decided to go for it as I had been curious for some time about the electronic reading gadget. When I turned it on and went to the Kindle Store, I noticed that there is an option to subscribe to thousands of blogs, each for $.99 month.

That piqued my curiosity. I have no idea how many people actually read blogs on the Kindle or if anyone is making money from their blog being available on Kindle, but why not list it?

Finding out how to submit your blog is not obvious. I did a search, found a forum post asking that very question and followed the thread to find the answer >> https://kindlepublishing.amazon.com

You must set up a publishing account (different from your Amazon account), fill out a few fields, upload a couple of images and submit. Easy.

Here's the info you need to have in order to submit your blog in just a few minutes:

1. RSS feed for blog
2. Blog Title
3. Blog Tagline
4. Blog Description
5. Blog author
6. Screen shot of blog home page
7. Blog banner image
8. Blog author name
9. Web address
10. blog language
11. Keywords
12. Categories
13. Frequency of posting

Save. Preview. Publish.

Isn't this cool? This is how my blog will look on the Kindle.

Your blog will be reviewed and added to the Kindle Store in 48-72 hours (so they say).

Even if no one ever subscribes to my blog on the Kindle, it doesn't really matter. It's there when people search both on the Kindle AND on Amazon - a great place to get more visibility for your blog and your business! Plus people can get a 14 day free trial and may get hooked on your great content.

NOTE: Just found the easy way to submit your blog >> On Amazon, go to the Kindle Store, then click on Blogs. You'll see a link to take you to the publishing site in the left column.

Is your blog listed on the Kindle? If so, post the link to your listing on Amazon so we can check it out. And, let us know how it's working for you. Are you making any money?