Business Blogging - How to Build A Better Blog

How to Reach 97 Million Americans - Lou Bortone's Video Tip

Lou Bortone the Online Video Guy is my guest "author" today. I guess author takes on whole new meaning with video. I asked Lou to share a video tip with my readers and in the video he talks about why you should be using video in your marketing mix.

I think you can see I'm pushing the use of video on your blog. Not for every post, but to mix it up once in a while. Give your audience a more intimate glimpse at who you are and the chance to connect with you even more deeply.

Don't be intimidated by Lou Bortone's videos. He's been doing this a long time. If you've seen any of my videos, you know they're pretty basic, and they get a point across. That's what you want to do. Nothing fancy or technically complex.

Not sure how to get started? Here's my list of equipment and software.

Related Posts:

Use Video on Your Blog to Entertain Your Audience

Engage Your Readers in Multiple Ways

Recommended Training:

Online Video Made Easy

Recommended Reading

YouTube for Business

Use Video on Your Blog to Entertain Your Audience

Not a day goes by that I don't read something in an ezine or on twitter or Facebook touting the power of video to connect, engage and convert your readers. And it's true. Video is a much more intimate way to connect since the viewer can see your body language, your facial expressions and hear your tonality.

In this 2 minute video clip, which is part of a 5-part 50 minute video program about blogging (free!) I talk about the power of using video on your blog (it's a video clip from a presentation I did a few months ago).

And video is not difficult to shoot, produce and distribute. The tools are soooo much easier than they have ever been. I can assure you that if I can do video, you probably can too!

In this blog post on blogging and video, I list some of the equipment, tools and software I use. Dare I also be shamelessy self-promotional and remind you that with the Online Video Guy Lou Bortone, I created a video course for newbies called Online Video Made Easy...everything you need to know to get started using video on your blog. Really, it requires very little investment to get started and I'll bet you'll have a lot of fun.

Fun though it may be, you also want results. Typically people respond much more favorably to videos: they're more apt to click your links, sign up for your programs, buy your products and generally heed your calls to action.

If you're using video on your blog, what's your experience been? Do you get more comments? More subscribers? I'm curious how video is working for you. And if you're not using video yet, what's stopping you?

Tony Laidig Reveals How to Create Expert Content for Your Blog

My interview with public domain expert Tony Laidig struck a chord. Even after the event was over, people have been registering so they can get the audio replay (497 so far!). Tony over-delivered, as I knew he would, when he shared a successful case study and step by step details about how he uses an overlooked source to fill his niche blogs with content (and it's totally legal!).

Whether you have an authority blog for your business or niche blogs for your hobbies, Tony Laidig's system for generating content can help you with the never-ending quest to publish consistent blog posts.

I've received so many requests for the replay, that I'm making it available to everyone because content creation is a universal problem for bloggers (and you can apply this information to articles, ebooks, mini courses, videos, etc., etc.).  Here's the link to the replay on how to create expert content for your blog...

 

8 Content Writing Tips for Your Blog

Everyday I have conversations with clients about how and what to write on their blog. Yesterday I was talking with a client who will have multiple authors for the blog. Blogging is brand new to their company and they freely admit that they have no clue how to transition from academic journal-type articles to conversational, editorial type blog posts. Here are eight tips I shared with them that focus on how you serve your client/customer.

When contemplating your content ask yourself these points so you can address the readers' potential questions right up front:

1. Why is this post important? If readers ask "what's in it for me?" will they know right away?
2. Does this content appeal to their pain, needs, wants, desires?
3. Does this post describe a problem?
4. What is the problem? Is it clearly articulated?
5. So what? Do readers understand the consequences of having this problem?
6. What's your solution? What are you educating readers about that they might not know? What's your unique perspective? How is your solution different from widely accepted knowledge?
7. How would readers apply this information to their lives and to their work? Explain to them how to do it. Get them to do it for themselves.
8. Why should anyone believe you?

What would you add? There are many, many different ways to approach blog content and it does depend on your audience. If you're a service provider, these tips may provoke some content ideas for you.

Related Post
8 Reasons Why Client Questions Make Great Blog Content
Business Blogging Tip: Write for Your Ideal Client (video)

Attention Bloggers: How to Find a Steady Stream of Content for Your Blogs

Secrets to Profitable Blogging Revealed
How to Find a Steady Stream of Expert Content for Your Niche Blog

Tuesday, June 2 at 2 p.m. Pacific/5 p.m. Eastern
No charge!

Join me when I interview Public Domain Expert Tony Laidig to find out how you can create a steady stream of quality, expert content for your niche blog.  When you learn what Tony has discovered and put into practice time and time again to achieve more traffic and more money from his blog, you’ll be thrilled and ready to do the same on your own blogs.

This is especially relevant if you have multiple blogs for your hobbies/passions vs. an authority blog (establishing your credibility and expertise in your primary business).  This is also important if you have a a very specific niche for which you're always on the look out for content.

Click here for Information and Registration

Business Blogging Tip - Repurpose Your TeleSeminars (video)

Content, content, content. Always the quest for blog content. Here's another tip for you on where to find content for your blog...use transcripts from your teleseminars or your speaking gigs to create a series of blog posts on a specific topic.

Related posts:
Blogger LinkUp Solves Your Blog Content Problems
Bloggers - Are You Using Video Yet?
Easy Tip for Creating Blog Content - Video

Put Down Your Twitter Toys and Get Back to Blogging

I am looking at the Twitterverse and shaking my head. So much going on there, so much noise. And like a kid with a new toy, some of you are abandoning your old stand-by business blogs in favor of quick updates on Twitter.

Tsk, tsk. Put down your Twitter Toys right NOW! Here's an important post I want you to go read: 19 Reasons You Should Blog And Not Just Tweet by Adam Singer over on The Future Buzz.

Blogging demonstrates true commitment and passion to your industry that you really can’t fake long-term.  Most won’t be able to sustain it over long periods of time with frequency, but those who do so are rewarded in spades and stand out from the crowd.

Twitter is in a sense social sticky notes... It’s snack-sized content. Are you or your business interesting enough to provide the full course?  It’s telling who engages deeper vs. those who simply choose to engage 140 characters at a time.

Isn't it time we get back to writing meaty, useful blog content instead of just poking our heads in and retweeting something? Now, don't get me wrong, I love Twitter. But I also enjoy good business blog content that educates, entertains, and grabs me where I feel it.

Blogger LinkUp Solves Your Blog Content Problems

One of the laments I often hear from business bloggers is that the quest for fresh, new content takes so much time and energy. And that problem now may be solved for you.

Enter Blogger LinkUp, a brand new, blog content service from Cathy Stucker, also known as The Idea Lady. Cathy has created a service modeled on the successful Help A Reporter Out email service from Peter Shankman.

Blogger LinkUp connects you with potential guest bloggers as well as provides writers an avenue to find bloggers looking for guests writers.

When you sign up for the free service, you begin receiving emails with listing from bloggers outlining their needs for guest posts, as well as lists of articles available from bloggers. The listings are categorized by Business, Technology, Health, Lifestyle, Travel, and Entertainment. You submit your requirements for the posts and can choose whether or not you'll accept previously published content or if posts need to be new content.

Blogger LinkUp has just started so there's not a lot coming through yet, but I can see this will be a really useful service for those of us who write on multiple blogs and are in a constant state of content creation.  What a relief to have a guest post now and then to keep your blog fresh with new content. Got to keep those search engines coming back, right?

If you're looking for a steady stream of relevant new content for your blog, give Blogger LinkUp a try. Post your blogging content needs and see what you get. Obviously the more subscribers the better the pool, so sign up now. You may also find opportunities to reach new audiences by submitting guest posts to other blogs.

Related Posts:
Trendpedia - tracking trends on blogs
Easy Tip for Creating Blog Content - Video
Blog Content: Where do you find it?
Free Report: Better Business Blogging

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!