Blog To Great

Do You Write Good or GREAT Blog Posts ?

       BLOG TIPS- How to write a good vs a great blog post is one of the primary issues in blogging.  In order to rise above the average blog posts that are out there, I've learned that you need to determine what you want to say before you even start the post.  If you don't have a guide, a roadmap before you begin there's a good chance your post (and your blog) will wander aimlessly and your readers will quickly lose interest. Once you’ve decide on the post topic, set your goal. Will your post inform your readers, make them think, ask a question or start a debate?  In this way, you're able to stay on target during the post and reach your goal.

Truly great posts are clear in their topic and goal.  Good posts only accomplish one of the tasks, but not both.  So know what you what to say before you say it!

When, and only when, you’ve decided on the topic and the goal, you can start writing. Don’t be overly concerned about sentence structure, grammar, etc just now; put all of your coherent thoughts down-  you'll edit and fine tune later.

After you expressed your thoughts, and made your point clearly, go back and clean up the post; edit your post and make sure your writing is clear and conversational.  Remove the typos, grammatical errors, repetitive statements, etc.   Quality is important in blog writing, even more important than quantity.  Remember, just because you've writing alot doesn't make it a good post!  Does it express your thought, cover the topic well and reach the goal?

Then, when you're done -- go back and re-read the post from start to finish and verify that it reads how you intended it to. If you need to step away for a few hours or a day, go ahead.  When you're sure you've been clear and concise, you can post it.  How the readers react will let you know if you did a good job, so make sure to ask for comments !!!

Social Networking Usage Climbs, Is Your Blog Ready?

     Blog Tips -  Blogging continues to get a boost as Americans nearly tripled the amount of time they spend using social networking sites and blogs like Facebook and Twitter says a new Neilsen study.  Another study shows that these users tend to be more affluent, and urban based.

In August 2009, 17% of all Internet usage was spent at a social networking sites.  That's a big increase from the 6% in August of 2008, says the first report.    “This growth suggests a wholesale change in the way the Internet is used,” Jon Gibs, vice president, media and agency insights at Nielsen’s online division, said. “While video and text content remain central to the Web experience – the desire of online consumers to connect, communicate and share is increasingly driving the medium’s growth.”

In a seperate Neilsen Claritas study, it revealed that users of social networking sites sku more urban, and more affluent. According to the report, Facebook users are wealthier than MySpace users (no surprise, since teens/young adults use MySpace more than older adults).  An interesting point is that, overall, the blogging and tweeting community isn’t necessarily more affluent, just more urban and are more likely to be in major cities like NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago.

Good info for use with your marketing efforts and social networking work to promote your blog.  As people and consumers continue to use the internet more and more for social interaction, your blog needs to be part of the trend in order to reach the right reader/customer.  Are you active on Facebook, do you Tweet regularly?   Check out the full reports!

SEO Won't Work By Itself, Some Tips to Help

     BLOG TIPS - In the quest for increased blog readership, you'll likely use SEO techniques at some point in your blog career, either on your own or by hiring someone.  Fine, but without great blog content SEO will not help your efforts.  Most SEO techniques will get your blog additional clicks, but what happens when the reader arrives at your blog but they are disappointed by the content.  You could actually do more damage with SEO, by attracking readers that may leave negative comments or tells others they didn't like your work!

Instead, remember the basic rules of blogging in order that your SEO efforts truly enhanced your blog and you get the results you desire.  Some tips-

Effective Blog Post TITLES - You're writing for real people, make sure your titles peak the readers interest and make them WANT to read on.  Also keep in mind the keywords that folks may use to find the content you're writing about

Post NEW & INTERESTING Content- Seems obvious, huh.  Post what others will want to link to and talk about. If all you do is repeat the same topics/issues covered by other blogs, people will notice and not regard you very highly.  Post content that's new and unique with your own style.    If your blog covers news, make sure you've added your own "spin" to make it personal (see next tip) and interesting.

Add a Personal Angle - Most readers like to know who the author is.  Add personal stories, anecdotes from your own past.  The core information in a post can be the same, but it's much more interesting to the reader if the author has added some "heart" to the story.  What's your feeling on the topic?  Why do you feel that way?

Again, human beings read our blogs, so personal stories hit home with readers and enable them to relate to you, and the post.  Plus, they're more likely to return to your blog as you develope a relationship with the reader.

Engage the Reader - Ask for their response, reaction, reply, comments.  They'll have one, but you need to let them know you're interested in what they feel....

So, let me know what you think...  and offer your advice.  Please comment below.

TWITTER Tips to Help Your Blog

     BLOG TIPS- There's still a debate among some on the Blog vs Twitter issue.  We posted on this previously and so I'm surprised that some haven't found how Twitter can be an asset to your blog efforts and that it won't replace blogging.  It's great to see so much info out there on how Twitter is the Blogger's friend and can be used effectively (and creatively) to promote your blog and expand your readership.  As you know, to gain readers, you can spend time or money to promote your blog - I'd rather invest the time and see the money benefits grow !!

As with blogging, the core principles of good social media practices, and in particular with Twitter, still apply - stick to your niche, don't be annoying with what you write (constant links to affiliate offers, for example), say something new (or at least RT appropriately) and build a following !

Interesting post on the topic @ Successful-Blog.com

Blog Action Day 2009 Announced !

    BLOG NEWS - The next Blog Action Day topic has been voted on, and the topic/issue is ----Climate Change!   And, the new Blog Action Day website is now up & running, check it out and register at BlogActionDay.org .

 In order to be part of this year's event, all you need to do is commit to writing one original blog
post, on October 15, on the issue of climate change.  More than a dozen top blogs, including Mashable, The Official Google Blog, TMZ,  Autoblog, Music News Net and Daily Blog Tips, have already registered.  

As in the past, the event won't be successful with the big blogs alone.  All bloggers,
everywhere, of all types, sizes and niches are needed since this topic impacts everyone on this planet.

At the BlogActionDay site you'll be able to learn more about the issue of climate change and take a look at sample topics you may consider writing about' for example  -- the connections between climate and clean energy, how are food choices impact the climate,  green products, health, government action/ination, and transportation. 


Working together, we can make BAD 2009 the biggest social change event ever on the web.  Register now @ BlogActionDay.org.  Make sure you and your blog are taking part !

Looks Like BRIGHTCOVE is NOT For Sale, This Year

     BLOG NEWS- It appears that video content and ad platform Brightcove will not be sold to Google or anyone else in the near future. In a recent interview with PaidContent, Brightcove CEO Jeremy Allaire said "We're not for sale."

The news end the rumor that started last week when Mark Glaser of PBS MediaShift tweeted that a deal was likely and Brightcove had a $500 to $700 million selling price. The deal would have given Google added credibility with major media firms as it and broaden its video offerings to business.  

Allaire also said to PaidContent:

We don't comment on rumor and speculation. All I can say is, we're focused on building a global, independent company, and that's the path that we're on... We're in a fortunate place in that we've got a business that we've shown can be a sustainable business, it's in a market that is growing, we have a lot of cash on our balance sheet. We don't need capital. That puts us in a place to continue to be independent.

Google Unveils Its DoubleClick Ad Exchange

     BLOG TIPS- The much discussed Google Ad Exchange is launching.  Their Ad Exchange is their latest, and biggest tool, so far, in the on-going struggle over the $15 billion display ad market (banner ad and video ads that are on most blogs / websites).  Google launched its new DoubleClick advertising exchange today, it's the open "ad marketplace" that it's been working on since early 2008.

"Better technology can help make display advertising work better for all involved," Neal Mohan, Google's vice president of product management, said in a statement. "We're focused on growing the display advertising pie for everyone. The DoubleClick Ad Exchange is a major part of that goal."

Google's exchange lets bloggers and Web site operators offer space to ad agencies and ad networks to enticing them to bid on the space in a live, automated auction system.  This way, advertisers can get a wider choice of ad space and be able to target ads more accurately to the most appropriate prospects. With this system, publishers look for increased ad revenue rather than the low $$$ you get from most ad networks 

More @ GoogleBlog

Don't Ignore the "Long Tail" for Your SEO Needs

     Blog Tips -  Don't make the common blogger mistake of ignoring the demand curve of search queries and the long-tail search phrases used by searchers.  SEO expert,  Rand Fishkin describes these as the unique searches people do when looking for content or your specific products. While individually, these terms might only have around one and 10 searches per month,  they could collectively bring you nearly 75% of your search traffic.

Fishkin says most foks focus only on one or two keywords without considering the huge amount of traffic in the "long tail" and how easily you can capture more.  Fishkin feels the long tail market is still untapped with current efforts "so comparatively little and reward, 75%, so potentially massive, that's it's dangerous to approach the equation" and not spend SEO efforts in the tail.

See his full post, at SEOMOZ.org