Why Blog Topics

Blogging is a very powerful tool to use for building any type of brand. Most people who are building a business think that they need to only blog about their business. Blogs are so unique that you can either blog about your business or blog about whatever interests you. Keep in mind, every post that you write may not always have readers. But whatever you write, usually you will have someone interested in it.

Do not select a topic simply because you think a lot of people will search for. You may not think that someone is interested in your topic, but that's ok. I will pretty much guarantee that someone is interested one way or another.

Four points to consider when choosing a topic.

* Keeping in mind that blogging requires a long term commitment. If you write about a topic you are interested in, then you will have long time commitment.

* Knowing your topic is very important. People will not hesitate to point out the subject matter mistakes.

* Always be passionate in your writing. This will assure more dedicated readers.

* Always write about a topic you are very familiar with. People will know if you are not very familiar with your topic by posting comments or loosing readers. This will also keep you from struggling with your topic.

People love to read and follow great content that interests them. So the topic is the key to attracting a huge audience.

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Asking Nicely

Today, I will talk about how to ask another blogger nicely to link to your blog. If you missed my post talking about the benefits of guest blogging. Do not me alarmed, I will repost it here. The importance of Guest Blogging. These two posts work hand in hand.

Understanding Twitter

Using twitter in your business is a very valuable marketing tool. Whether you have a small, medium or large business. Twitter can also help your PR, or known as Public Relations, with marketing the customer service aspect of the business.

Guest Blogging

Ok, so I talked about the advantage of linking your blog to other blog posts to acquire Backlinks. Today, I will talk about how to write as a guest on other people's blogs to drive traffic to your blog. It is pretty simple, you can ask a blogger if you can write a piece for their blog. This is usually done by offering to trade guest posts by other bloggers. Other bloggers always want great content for their blogs. If you can offer this to them, then most likely they will accept. Writing can become overwhelming and people need a brake. This is a perfect opportunity for them to use your services. While you are gaining relationships with other bloggers, be sure to keep on the look out for other bloggers wanting Guest Bloggers.

Plagiarism Definition

My last post talked about, how to link to other posts for link juice. Today I will emphasize the importance of giving credit where credit is due. Anytime you ever link to another post you must always give credit to the author by mentioning the authors name and linking to the post.

SEO Link Building

Linking is a must for every network marketer to learn. In the past I have talked about the importance of linking and different ways to link. If you missed those posts do not worry I will re-post them. Using the full URL address when linking websites, Bad-links, Link building, reasons to deep link, Linking your websites the right way. Today I will talk more in detail about linking to other blog posts.

Blogs With Comments

I love talking about commenting on other blogs or web sites. If you missed my other posts regarding commenting I will repost them. Blog Commenting, How to comment on blogs

Blog Tracking

If you are like me, you love to read people's blogs and comment on them. Of course, you would want to keep track of your comments so you can easily see when people respond to your comments. Especially if you comment on 2-3 blogs per week. I would recommend you use a tool called Delicious Bookmarking

Blog Commenting

I have talked about "How to comment on blogs" in one of my last posts. Today I will add more information to help people understand the value of commenting. To be known by a Blogger you must first contribute to their posts. The best way to do this is by leaving Quality comments pertaining to their post.

Get Back Link

Building a productive blog requires people to find it and like it. But for people to find it and like it, will require internet marketing strategies.

Obtaining Feedback From Emailing

Email is designed in the form of a two way communication. It is used to gather feedback from your audience. Many people love to voice there opinions. So email has been used in a way of accomplishing this.

Two categories people use to obtain feedback in an email form.

1) Stated feedback

A. Filling out an online form
B. Filling out an online survey
c. A person sends a reply to an email

2) Behavioral Feedback is used to track people's motives.

A. Links are clicked within the email
B. The rate at which an email is opened.
c. E-mails forwarded to friends, family, colleagues, etc.

Feedback is very important in an email campaign. If you don't acquire feedback, then you may or could be wasting your time.

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Identifiable Emails

Potential customers, business partners, are more likely to respond positively to your email messages when they can identify your brand, or are familiar with your content. Always plan all your email messages as if they were just one. For example: If you were to send out one email with a certain logo or design. Always make sure all the following emails have the same identical logo and design. This way your emails start becoming familiar to your audience.

Seven marketing materials your logo and colors should be identical on.

* Advertisement signs or banners.

* A potential customer ordering something from your order form.

* Signing up for your emails or newsletters.

* Most important, your website.

* Any type of receipt you may give to your customer.

* Business cards should all look the same.

* E-mails should always be identified by the recipient.

Always include your company name on all your marketing materials with some type of contact.

Five types of marketing materials that should always include your company name.

* When sending an email, always have a from line.

* Try to include your company name in the URL.

* A great form of marketing is using an e-mail signature. Make sure to include your companies name in the signature.

* Any directories you submit your website or blogs to.

* Of coarse, your blog and websites.

Make sure you have consistency in your emails.

Five consistencies to keep in mind when sending an email.

* Keep all the fonts to a bare minimum which include the size.

* Make sure the layout is set to what you are sending.

* If images are included, make sure it pertains to the content of the email.

* Headlines are the key to a person opening the email. Make it a good one.

* Include some type of contact for a person to take action.

Keeping these few ideas in mind when creating an email, should give you a better response in your e-mail campaigns.

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Email Legal Practices

Spamming emails are illegal. You must get permission from the recipient before sending any type of commercial email. Email is classified in 2 different categories.

* Commercial email: Any email that is sent in the name of your business to advertise, promote, or any content from a business website.

* Transactional or relationship email: Any other email that is not commercial email.

Keeping your email clean and in compliant will make a better relationship with your recipient. Listed below are the 2 CAN-SPAM acts that were implemented in 2003 and 2008. Check them out to make sure your emails are in compliance.

* 2003 Act
* 2003 revision to the 2008 Act

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Email Campaign Displayed Information

In my last post I talked about "Creating an effective marketing email." Today I will talk about, what should be included in an email when creating an email campaign using a form.

Always ask yourself this question. How would your audience always recognize your emails? Then include that information in the email. Most email service providers or (ESP) will let you use an unique header for each email campaign.

What is needed in your email campaign when creating the form to get noticed.

* Include your name in any email if the recipient can only identify you by your name. Without a name, the recipient can label you as a spammer. Of course you always want your recipient to know who the email is from.

* A person may not know you by your personal name but by the business name. Always include your business name in the email's. Exactly like they found you and nothing different.

* You may be a representative of a well know business or franchise. So in this case, you will want to use your name and the company name. Most network marketers fall into this category.

* You may have to divide your email list into separate categories. For example, you may be a leader in your MLM and send out mass emails. You would want to know who there representative is or sponsor, so they know who to label the email to.

* Using your location can also help. You may have people in your down line from all parts of the world. For example: if you are putting on a live meeting in your area, you can just send out the mass email to people in your geographical location.

* Many people may only recognize you from your business domain name. Even if your business uses abbreviations or initials, you still want to use the full name. This is for branding purposes. This portion of the form will be in the from line.

* Creating an email address that identifies you and your business. This would be included in the from address line of the form. A recommendation would be to create an address that identifies who you are and what your branding.

Keeping these few ideas in mind when creating an email campaign, can save you some trouble in the long run.

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Email Matching to Your Brand

In my last post I talked about branding your emails to increase your image. Today I will continue talking about, branding your emails to match your business.

Every time you are making communication with people always use the same branding elements. Emails are no exception. Always matching every email with your brand will give your audience more confidence in your brand and will put a mental picture in there head of your brand.

Seven ways to create and email to match your brand.

* Place your logo in the email where people can see it. I would suggest in the upper left hand corner or centered at the top of an email. Using company logos will reinforce the image of your company.

Now you need to understand, not all MLM companies will let you use the company logo. You must read your companies "policies and procedures." If they don't just be creative in your design.

* Use the colors from your companies logo. You can do this by placing the colors in the border and backgrounds of your email.

* Always use the colors from your web site to match your email. People may be hesitant, if they click your web site in an email and see something totally different.

* Make sure to match your web site offers with your email offers.

For example: You are emailing out an offer that is directing people to your web site to complete the offer. Make sure your web site uses the same colors and elements as your email.

* Any type of print communications you have, always make sure it matches your email.

* Using the same fonts all the time is very important in every email. You do not want to include in your email a variety of different fonts. This will distract your reader and chances are they will leave. Stick with two, maybe three.

* Make sure your emails reflect the personality of your business. Just as the design of your email is important so is the writing.

Hint: Before sending any email have a friend or colleague proof read your email. Get their feed back about what changes need to be made if any.

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Getting Your Blog Noticed

There are two things in the blogging community that powers a blog. The first one is the writer, and the second one is the community in which the blogs function. To make a blog very successful you must get involved within the Bloggers community. By accomplishing this, you must get involved with other bloggers that are already talking about your subject. This involvement leads to more links and more influential bloggers referring to you. If you want to be noticed, and become a respected blogger among'st the community of bloggers then do the following 3 things.


* Leave a forceful and meaningful comment on an influential blog.

* Use someone else's post in one of your posts. Then link to that other person's post in your post.

* Writing about something that is of high relevance to the current event's. People love to read content about what is actually happening in the world at the current time.

Blogging requires people to read your content. So getting involved in the blogging communities will help you in your blogging adventure.

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Write For A Blog

For the past few days I have been talking about "How to write like a blogger." Here are the topics I have been covering. The Writer's blog, Writing tips for writers and blogging ideas. Today, I will talk about another technique a blogger uses to help with their blogging.

The technique I will talk about today is called "Guest blogging." Letting other people write on your blog will give you a break when you need it. Not only it can give you a break, it can also attract other attention like bloggers to your blog. Sometimes in return you can also be asked to post as a Guest blogger on their blog.

If you are wondering how to become a guest blogger? Its easy, just ask other bloggers who you regularly comment on, if they would consider writing on your blog as a guest blogger.

If and when you decide to seek out these guest bloggers. Keep in mind that they do not need to post right away. Just keep their information, and when you are ready to use there services then you can contact them. Everybody likes to go on vacation. This would be a perfect time to ask a guest blogger to post to your blog so content is still being added. Also, you may have an interesting idea that requires guest posts. Contact the appropriate blogger for your topic.

As you read more and more blogs. You will see how many bloggers use other bloggers for guest posts.

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The Writers Blog

Writing a blog post should represent you as the writer. Every time a reader reads your posts they should have an image of you. This way they can always identify you.

To reach that point with in your readers, you must structure your posts to eliminate road blocks to your readers. You must make sure your readers get your point each and every time. If you want to achieve this, you must make sure all your posts include the Three S's.

Three "S's" to remember to achieve when creating a post.

* Your writing should be clear with "Simplicity" and easy to read. Keep your writing simple.

* People do not read posts thoroughly. Make sure to write your posts with "Scannability." Use bold letters, bullets and pictures to break up the text.

* Your writing should get straight to the point. Make sure it is written with "Sharpness."

These three S's will help you with accomplishing your goals with in your posts.

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Writing Posts

Pshew, ok we are done with talking about blogging. Not so fast! For the past few weeks we have talked about different types of blog platforms and setting up your RSS feed. Now we need to cover writing your first post.

For you to get noticed in the bloggers world you need to make your first post perfect. You want to come into the blogging scene as a superstar.

Since we know this will not happen, you want to have fun and make your blogging adventure stress free. I will give you a couple of tips for a first post.

Four key points to keep in mind when starting a first post in a blog.

* Always write from the heart. DO NOT AIM FOR PERFECTION. Just talk about the aspirations of the blog.

* Do not write a post talking about how you do not know what to write. Everybody knows that people have writers block. So you do not need to remind your readers.

* Write a first post that you can later in time look back on. This will remind you why this blog was started in the first place. Always create a time capsule.

* After writing the post, do publish it right away. Do not spend days on editing it. This will just burn you out and may keep you from writing as many times as possible. Live life and just get in there and get dirty.

Writing your first post is not to aim for perfection. It is about just getting it out there. If it is not perfect, that is okay. Blogging is about practice and improvement.

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Home Business Blog

Choosing a blog platform can be quite tough. For starters, I would recommend using Blogger.com which is owned by google or wordpress.com. Blogger and wordpress is a basic blogging service that can be set up within minutes and start publishing. With these services they are already set up so you don't have to install anything. For the advance bloggers you can use wordpress.org which is customizable. But until you are familiar with the basics of blogs, I would stick to blogger or wordpress.com.

Five Strengths of blogger and wordpress.com.

* They are easy to use because of there pre-made templates.

* No software has to be installed.

* They are absolutely free. Which in today's economy makes this very exciting.

* Many prebuilt designs are available.

* You are not responsible for maintaining the codes that powers the blog. These updates are done automatically.

Four drawbacks of using Blogger or wordpress.

* No customization to any of these blogs. It's like having a car with the hood shut at all times.

* Do to the fact that these blogs are not part of your website, will cause the blog to be pretty week in SEO.

* Since somebody else is responsible for the coding, this can have a draw back when something goes wrong. It could take hours and even days before your blog is up and running.

Blogger and wordpress.com are great blogs to start out on. But if later down the road you decide to use blogs as your main marketing strategy. You may want to change to a more customizable platform.

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