Business Blogging - How to Build A Better Blog

The Thailand Golf Zone - A Four Year Blogging Success Story

In 2006 The Blog Squad worked with Mark Seigal to set up his blog The Thailand Golf Zone. After a few hours of training, Mark was off and running.  What I appreciate about Mark is that just about every year he sends updates about the opportunities he's getting as a direct result of his blog. Recently I received an update and asked Mark if I could share it with you...

Hi Denise,

Can you believe it, the Thailand golf blog (www.thailandgolfzone.com) that you designed in 2006 is 5 years old today [Ed. note - it's actually 4 years old]! With 437 posts, and counting, and over 1000 unique visitors per day, the "Build A Better Blog" designed web site is the most widely read expert information source on golfing in Thailand anywhere, and that is no small feat.

Without your assistance, support, suggestions, and guidance, this whole web site would have never happened.

I know I have mentioned this before, but my Thailand golf blog remains the single biggest and best marketing initiative I have taken to date. Initially I thought it would be a good way to communicate with clients. However, what I did not realize was that sharing all my golf information and experiences over the internet has made me into the subject matter expert. Nowadays, I regularly get interviewed and quoted by print, radio, and TV media. Moreover, even the Thailand government has appointed me president of their golf cooperative, Golf In A Kingdom, and they regularly call on me to attend trade shows and speak at public events on their behalf.

Who would have thought that from a small start-up business that GolfAsian would emerge as a multi-million dollar enterprise and golf tourism industry leader. Thank you for all your help.

By the way, this year we are incorporating Golfasian Vietnam to mark our rapid expansion into new markets outside Thailand. Here is a recent photo of me golfing in Vietnam.

Best Regards,

Mark Siegel
Managing Director
Golfasian Co. Ltd.
The golf experts in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, & Cambodia

Pretty cool! I asked Mark about his financial investment and how much time he was spending on his blog:

On average I post 2 times a week. This takes me around 2 hours a week. The investment costs are my time, the initial set-up costs (your fees), and ongoing Typepad costs (around 200 per year - $14.95/month).   if I were to do things again I would do everything the same.

Blogging works! Posting valuable content consistently and constantly will attract the right clients and opportunities to your business.

Do you have a blogging success story? Share it in the comments and inspire us today!

Blog on!

Is your blog working for or against you? Maybe it's time for a blog tune-up. Click here to find out how to get a detailed review and action steps to optimize your blog for better results.

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Friday Feature - Kathleen McDonough's Social Media Success Story

It's Friday! And that means it's time for my new Friday Feature Spotlight on a social media success story. This week, Kathleen McDonough shares her story.

NOTE: When I put a call out for social media success stories, I was not soliciting testimonials. I won't say "no" to a testimonial though, and Kathleen shares her experience of putting my Online Visibility Secrets program into action. I am ecstatic to hear about the results she's getting from the program.

Kathleen McDonough, Kevin Lee Allen Design, Inc. (KLAD)
Website/Blog: http://klad.com/blog

In a nutshell, what success did you have as a result of your blog/social media?

When I signed up for OVS [Online Visibility Secrets], I averaged 682 visitors per month to my blog. I now average over 3,700 visitors per month. Via twitter, I connected with a well known food writer and TV personality with whom I have worked on designing a landing page for his award winning food and wine newsletter. Working LinkedIn, Twitter and our blog, I have connected with potential clients in film, TV, Theatre, and corporations where our helpful expertise is creating interest in our work.

What was the obstacle that you were facing in your business?

I had no idea how to find people to engage, I felt like I was writing to no one, and my blog had no focus.

What did you find as a result of using a blog/social media?

Entertainment has always been a very social, personality driven business. Prior to OVS, I disliked writing and engaging people via social media or networking events. Working through each lesson, I've gained confidence as a writer, and a networker, as I've learned to engage people and converse. Nothing like a 140 character limit to sharpen one's communication skills!

What specific feature do you like most blogging/social media?

Using OVS, I've found a mix of blogging and tweeting both informative business related information and purely social commentary has opened many doors. My firm's activity has increased so much that I've not been able to finish OVS, I'm only on lesson 16!

More info about Kathleen McDonough
KLAD creates scenery and lighting for entertainment industries, special events, museum exhibitions, specialty interiors, commercials, TV news and corporate events/trade shows. Kathleen McDonough can be reached at km [at] klad.com, 973.477.7973, and twitter: @KathleenMco

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Read more Social Media Success Stories:

Jospeh Ghabi, Author

 

Do you have a social media success story?

I would love to hear it. Fill out the form on this page and I'll add it to the queue.

New Fan Endorses Quality Blog Traffic Program

This morning I received an unsolicited email testimonial from an executive coach who studied my free audio program on how to drive quality blog traffic. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy and I want to share it with you. 

I had saved your audio but had not listened to it.  Today, as prompted by your e-mail, I did.  Fantastic info.  Loved your logical, make it easy approach and you have energized my focus for developing my blog for women lawyers. I am focused on following your advice and my first step will be identifying the key words. You may add me to your fan club!
-- Dorothy M. Pritchett, Executive Coach

OK, I'm tooting my own horn here, and, I want you to learn from this: third party endorsements are very powerful. When you receive them, make sure to add the audio, video or text to your sales page or blog (create a category for testimonials) or Fan page so others learn how your clients have benefited from your products and services.  If you don't tell people, how will they know?

This is also a great way to connect with people in your community (and potentially drive more quality blog traffic!). I am flattered by Dorothy Pritchett's comments and thanked her. I've also checked out her blog and now I'm giving it more attention by linking to it on this post. Mutual support and appreciation enhances your relationships and can attract more people into your community. If you're a woman lawyer, I hope you'll check out Joyful Lawyer too!

Related Post:
Driving More Traffic to Your Blog

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Why blog? William Reed Shares His Success Story

I am often asked if blogs really work to build a business. I say "yes." The next comment usually is, "your business is about blogging so of course it works for you." Well, to that I say, there are hundreds of success stories about how blogging has helped a business build more awareness, get more traffic to their web site, build a database of prospects, attract new clients, media coverage and myriad opportunities. Most of those businesses have NOTHING to do with blogging or online marketing.

William Reed, author of Entrepreneurs Creative Edge, shares some of the huge opportunities that have come his way as a result of being visible on the web with his active blog.

What do you think of that invitation to write a weekly column that gets in front of more than 80,000 people? Not bad, eh?

Now, William Reed and I have decided to partner on offering blogging programs for the English speaking population of Japan and possibly the rest of Asia! We're offering a free teleseminar on using a blog to build online visibility, to gage interest and then we'll decide where we go from there. Now tell me that blogging doesn't work to create business opportunities!

Want some more proof?
Blogging Success Stories Wanted! (read the comments)
GolfAsian Blog: 3 Years Old & Still Posting
Blogs Build Your Business: You Want More Proof?

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..

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!

Blogging Success Story: Mark Siegel

Mark Siegel is a blogging success story. Mark runs the Thailand Golf Zone blog which we helped him set up and optimize about two years ago. Periodically Mark sends us updates about the success of his business which he attributes to the success of his blog.  In January we got an email from Mark saying he could directly attribute $875,000 in new revenue to his blog. 

Yesterday, we got another raving (in a good way) email from Mark Siegel:

It's me again, Mark Siegel, and I just wanted to say keep up the great work on blog education! What you did to help me create the Thailand Golf Zone, continues to be the single biggest marketing action that has helped fuel my Golf business' (Golfasian) yearly TRIPLE DIGIT growth.

Get started blogging...it really is simple...

...but don't take our word for it. The day after our presentation about Blogging and Branding at Speak Your Way to Wealth, Collette Swann made a point to let me know she started a blog THAT night. Whoo hoo! Music to our ears! It really is easy to get started.

Get our free report on Better Business Blogging: 4 New Concepts to Get Spectacular Results.

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Shari Messinger Talks to The Blog Squad (Video)

The Blog Squad met Shari Messinger at Speak Your Way to Wealth. Shari is having a business blog created to support her business Resolutions Two, so she can positively impact more women's live by turning victims into victors.

Chris Baggott on Business Blogging

Last week we spoke with Chris Baggott about search engine optimization and business blogs (audio and transcript available). Overall the response was excellent, though a couple of bloggers didn't like the "corporate" approach of using a blog to generate leads.  Chris sent us this comment:

I just wanted to thank you both for a great session last week. Your questions were insightful and I really appreciate your open-mindedness for some of these new concepts.

A successful relationship requires direct communication. To get the right to build a relationship with a customer or prospect you have to first be found, second build credibility that a relationship with you will add value to the prospect or customer. Blogging is spectacular for this stage of the relationship.

From that point however 99% of the time that relationship is going to evolve to leverage some other medium...which might include face-to-face, email, telephone or even paper based things like catalogs.

You guys are a perfect case to show that a successful blogging program shouldn't be measured by the number of comments...but from the amount of traffic and conversions.

Thanks again,

Chris Baggott, CEO
Compendium Blogware

Related post:
SEO Blogging vs. Community