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If you are a blogger, you are a writer. Yes? As a blog writer you need to know at least a few basic keys for writing outstanding blog posts that will keep your readers coming back. Otherwise, you’re just talking to the wall. You need posts that will entice reader engagement. You need to know how to be useful in your posts and how to write conversationally. There is a great article over at ProBlogger that gives us 5 keys to writing excellent blog posts.
Every online business needs a targeted responsive permission based email list. It’s the bread and butter of every online business and many brick and mortar businesses as well. Our list is our audience, our community, our peeps. They are curious about us, interested in what we have to say and what we have to offer. They are our customers and our future customers. The people we market our products and services to. The people who keep us in business.
You’ve been told that size matters, right? Well sometimes. It’s better to have a small list of 2500 people who know, like and trust you and who are interested in what you have to, say, than it is to have a list of 250,000 who could care less about you or your products and services.
Some will disagree with me when I say you can make a good living with a smaller list. I’ve heard some of the so called “gurus” say you need a list of at least 10,000 to make any kind of money. That’s just not true. The money is not in how many are on your list, but how well you care for them.
When building your list, treat them with respect. Be generous with your information. Make sure you are giving them good relevant content that they find of value. That means you have to get to know your list. Build a relationship with them. Nurture them. The main way to do this is to give away lots and lots of really good content. This will make you irresistible and create a community of buyers who eagerly go to their in boxes every day expecting to reap the benefits of being in your space.
You’re thinking, “Yeah right, like that ever happens.” Unfortunately it doesn’t happen enough, but it does happen for those who understand the important role that relationship plays in their business.
So what can you do to create such raving fans? Content. Lots and lots of valuable content. Share knowledge and insight with them. Teach them new things. Tell them stories. Let them get to know you. Make them laugh. Show your gratitude.
Small thinkers are afraid of giving too much away for free. Big thinkers know the more you give your community valuable worthwhile content, the more they like and trust you and want to be in your space. Then when you promote to them, they’ll know that if the free stuff is this good, the paid stuff is going to be well worth the cost of admission.
Not only does treating you list with respect, gratitude and generosity keep them and create buyers, but it in turn grows your list even more. We all love telling others when we really like something, and your list is no different. They will forward your emails on to others and tell their friends, peers and colleagues about you and those people will want to be in your space as well.
I’d love to hear your “take away” on this. Please leave a comment below.
Starting a blog is easy – keeping a blog interesting and fresh is a whole other matter. While many marketers have no trouble beginning a niche blog, the sheer number of abandoned blogs around the ‘net speaks to the fact that many marketers don’t know what to do to keep a blog going. According to blogging experts, the key to keeping a blog going is to post frequently. This means that you’re going to need a ever present stream of content coming into your blog.
You may be intimidated by the thought of having to come up with lots of topic ideas. Finding topics for your blog posts are easy if you use the following ideas.
1. News in your niche
Your blog should be timely and there’s no better way to attract attention on your blog than to tap into some ongoing news. No matter what your niche is you can find news stories and breaking information that will help fuel timely blog posts. Sign up for Google Alerts (it’s free) and set up alerts on important words in your niche. This way you’ll be able to see the news in your niche and blog about current topics.
2. Comments section
The comments section in your blog can be a great source of writing inspiration. Let’s say you have a post on your marketing blog about keyword research. Within the comments section, a few people start asking about how to use keywords in articles for article marketing. Voila! You have your next blog post. Look through your comments section to identify topics that you can write about or questions you can answer in the form of a blog post.
3. Resource lists
Are there some websites or other resources that your niche needs to know about? Write a few resource list posts. Resource lists posts are very easy to write and they provide maximum value to your readers because they can get the information that they need easily. When you can’t think of anything else to write about you can pull together a helpful list for your readers.
4. Other blogs in your niche
Keep your finger on the pulse of your niche. Watch other blogs in your niche and see what they are writing about. You can take a different angle on the same topic, or cover an area of the topic that the original author missed. If you disagree with the author, feel free to go ahead and express you opinion on your blog. Other bloggers can be a great source of information so be sure to get involved in the community.
5. Quick tips
Start collecting a list of quick tips you’d like to share with your niche. These can be inspired by your personal experience with the niche, from other blog posts you’ve read or from other products in your niche. When you find yourself stuck for blog post ideas, you can write a quick tips post.
These tips just scratch the surface of where you can find ideas for blog posts to populate your blog. Start keeping a notepad file with blog post ideas and you’ll never be at a loss for material.
Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We love hearing from you. Please don’t forget to share and tweet it, too.
One of the most important things that you can do for your Internet marketing business is to include article marketing strategies. Unfortunately I didn’t understand this, which cost me dearly. In the beginning I felt that I wasn’t a writer, I really had no desire to become one, therefore why bother. I have since had an epiphany.
Article marketing should be a cornerstone of your marketing strategy. At first I didn’t understand this. But now I realize that the articles I write are far-reaching, like the ripple effect when a pebble is thrown in a pond. [Read more...]
Becoming a celebrity Blogger was probably the farthest thing from The Pioneer Woman’s mind.The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond didn’t set out to become a celebrity blogger and the next Food Network star. According to Rene Lynch of the LA Times;
“Her blog started as a way for her to stay in touch with extended family and show off pictures of the kids. But when she started posting photos of her food and recipes — specifically, a tutorial on grilling a steak — readers started coming in droves. And they stuck around for details about Drummond’s “how did I end up here” storytelling.”
Ree was a city girl turned Oklahoma rancher’s wife, home schooling mother of 4 turned blogger, and the rest is history.
Interesting… so what’s that got to do with you?
Well, either you read my posts because you are building an online business, want to learn WordPress or blogging in general. Pick one, any one and it could take you down the same road as Ree Drummund. [Read more...]
You’ve probably used article marketing to drive traffic to your website. Article marketing is the practice of publishing articles on article directories and other websites to promote your business. It’s a great way to drive traffic and boost credibility. However, did you know you can earn money through article marketing? You can! Here’s how:
#1 Use Article Marketing to Promote Affiliate Products or Services
If you’re an affiliate marketer you will want to use article marketing as a tool to boost your affiliate sales. Articles are a wonderful way to pre-sell products and services. You can write reviews, comparison articles, or simply informative or “how to” articles.
Some article directories allow embedded links in your article content. Others don’t. Take care to find directories that help you meet your goals. If you’re not allowed to embed links, make sure to link to your website or include an affiliate link in your author box.
#2 Use Article Marketing to Promote Your Own Products or Services
Just like you can use article marketing to promote affiliate products, you can use it to promote your own products as well. You want to provide informative content and to establish your credibility and authority. Link to your relevant products or services in the content to drive traffic to your sales page. Use your content to pre-sell the product by providing information or a solution to your prospect.
#3 Use Article Marketing to Build Your Opt-In List
Opt-in list transform you visitors into prospects that you can market to over and over again. Each prospect then has the potential to turn into a buyer. Therefore, the larger and more targeted and receptive your opt-in list, the more potential you have for sales and profits.
You can use article marketing to build your opt-in list. Create helpful and informative content. Motivate people to visit your website or send them to an opt-in form or squeeze page. Provide valuable content, content that solves a problem and offers a solution, and your prospects will be hungry for more. They’ll sign up for your list without hesitation.
Article marketing is a fantastic tool to build your business and increase your bottom line. Choose your article marketing sites wisely. Then write great content and watch your profits grow.
I’d love to hear your comments on this. Please leave on in the comments below and share this on social media too.
People use the internet for a number of reasons. One of the most common reasons people get online is to research a potential purchase. It’s an effective and efficient way to get all the facts before you visit a store to buy. Online reviews play an important role in the research process.
What Is an Online Review?
An online review is quite simply a summary and opinion of a product or service. Like a movie review, a product or service review generally follows a basic structure. It might begin with a summary of the product. Then it may describe who the product or service is designed for, and the primary problem the product or service solves.
The review structure can then offer the main features and benefits of the product. It can also take a pros and cons format. Finally, the review may end with a summary and a recap of the benefits. It may also at this point include the price, where the item can be found and a link to the business website. If the review is pre-selling a product, it then includes a call to action with a link to the sales page.
Credibility Matters
When you’re searching online for information about a product or service, you’re looking for a few things. You’re looking for the facts. You’re looking for price, data and features. And whether you’re aware of it or not, you’re looking for justification for your purchase. You’re seeking information that will reinforce a decision to purchase.
This is the case even if you’re comparing a few products or services. You’re looking for an opinion about the products and services as well as a comparison of the features. Reviews from respected and trusted sources can help a person make a buying decision. They add credibility to the product or service you’re considering.
Features and Benefits
You might assume that most people focus on the features when they’re reading a review. And while this is partially true, they’re actually more interested in how the product or service is going to solve their problem. They’re looking for benefits. People buy for emotional reasons and confirm their buying decision based on logic. When a review appeals to both the emotions and the logic, it has accomplished its job.
As an online marketer, reviews can be a powerful tool. They offer value to your visitors and prospects. They drive traffic to your website. Additionally, they help you pre-sell products or services. Whether you’re an affiliate marketer, have a partnership with another online business or you’re selling your own products or services, reviews can help you boost your business.
How to Write a Kick–Butt Review
Reviews provide the information many prospects and website visitors are looking for. They’re also an exceptional tool to pre-sell affiliate products. The key is to write a product review that grabs attention.
Step One: Introduction. What are you reviewing? Rather than just telling what the product is and what it does, focus on the problem it solves. Who is your audience and what is their problem? How does the product or service solve their problem? Focus on their emotions. There’s plenty of time to address the features later. First you need to grab their attention by highlighting the problem the product or service solves.
Step Two: Grab three to five of the strongest features of the product. These should be features that support your introduction. Here you want to highlight the feature and what it does. However, also remember to focus on the benefit to the reader.
These features and benefits are part of two larger questions which ask:
How well does the product solve the problem?
How does it solve the problem or how does it work?
Step Three: Remember that no product or service is perfect. If your review is one sided it will read more like a sales page than a review. You want to offer a balanced review, or at least one that seems balanced to your reader.
One way to accomplish this is to state the negative aspects of the product or service. Then quickly highlight the benefits again. For example, while the ebook offers some advanced information that’s not for the beginner, it presents the information in an easy to read and easy to understand manner.”
Step Four: Summarize the review. Restate the problem the product solves and how it solves it. Tap into your reader’s emotions. Keep this final paragraph to just a few sentences. Include the relevant info. How much does it cost? Where can they buy it? When can the buy it? You want to leave readers with a powerful reaction at the very end. Wrap it up with a call to action that includes a link to the sales page.
Tips to write a kick-butt review:
1. Approach as if you’re writing or speaking to a friend – conversationally
2. Include an image for more visual appeal
3. Be careful not to sound salesy. Honest, unbiased, reviews convert better
4. Remember, your readers want to know what’s in it for them.
5. Add a personal touch. Include any personal experience or stories you have related to the product or service you’re reviewing.
Product reviews are powerful selling tools. Take time to create reviews for any affiliate products or services you represent. Keep these steps and tips in mind and watch the commissions grow.
I’d love to hear what you think. Please leave a comment and share this on social media too.
When it comes to tried and true marketing tactics, few have stood the test of time. However, article marketing has always been a fantastic way to get free search engine traffic. Today it’s still true. If you’re looking for a quick way to drive traffic to your website, few tactics work as well as article marketing. Here’s how to make it work for you.
#1 Create content that offers value. Article marketing works best when you’re publishing top quality content. The more value and benefit your article offers, the more attention it will get. On article marketing sites this means you’ll get more readers.
It also means you’ll have more website owners publishing your content. The more people who publish your content, the broader your exposure. From there it’s a simple process. As each person reads your article, they’ll click through to visit your website. More readers mean more website visitors.
#2 Write a headline that captures attention. Your article may be the best article ever written. However, if the headline doesn’t grab a reader’s attention, it’s probably not going to be read. No one will know how good your content is. Your headline plays a very important role. To grab attention there are a number of headline styles that work. They include:
Numbers – 10 tips to look younger today
Benefit – Discover how to look younger today
News – Newly discovered secret promises fountain of youth
Question – Do you want to look younger without spending a fortune?
Take a look at headlines that attract your attention. With a little practice you can quickly discover how to write attention- grabbing headlines. Also, be sure to pay attention to the topic. Look at your article topic to find out what articles are published most often, what articles generate the most click throughs and what articles are read the most often. That will help you learn what your audience responds to.
#3 Make sure to include a call to action. Each article directory has its own guidelines about what’s acceptable. Some allow you to include embedded links in your content. Some allow photos and graphics. All of them allow an author’s resource box. This little box is where you include not only a brief sentence about who you are, but also a call to action and a link to your web, squeeze or sales page.
A call to action is an important element many article marketers overlook. However, it’s essential if you want to drive traffic to your website. People need to be told what to do next. If you don’t ask them to visit your website, chances are they won’t.
Article marketing is still a very effective marketing tactic. Choose one or two quality article directories, create a content plan and start using this free marketing strategy today. You’re going to love the results.
I’d love to hear what you think. Please leave a comment below.
This week’s Guest Blogger is none other than my friend Nicole Dean the Queen of PLR! I’m happy to have her once again on The Happypreneur. She’s going to explain the difference between using PLR and hiring a ghost writer. So without further ado, Here’s Nicole…..
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Private Label Rights (PLR) articles and ghostwritten articles are both options when you need web content. Each is unique in its qualities and each has its drawbacks.
So, when you need content, which should you choose? Let’s analyze both options to find out which option is right for you.
Ghostwritten Articles
Ghostwritten articles are written just for your use. You own the article and can do whatever you’d like to with it.
Pros:
1. The article is unique to you and you do not share the content with anyone else.
Cons:
1. Ghostwritten articles are quite a bit more expensive per article than PLR packages.
2. You have the responsibility of finding a good writer.
3. The quality can be questionable.
4. You need to check your articles to make sure your ghostwriter isn’t stealing content. Unfortunately that does happen.
PLR Articles
PLR articles are pre-written articles that are sold in packages, or as part of a monthly membership.
Pros:
1. PLR articles are much more affordable than ghostwritten ones.
2. The content is ready, so you don’t have to wait for a ghostwriter to become available or find a ghostwriter who is available.
Cons:
1. The content is not unique. You share the articles with the other people who purchased the package or membership.
2. You can’t submit the PLR articles to article directories.
3. The quality can be questionable.
4. You have to find PLR packages in your niche – or hope that the membership you signed up for sends you ones that you can use.
How can you even the odds between the two? Find a quality PLR service that allows you choose your topics. If the articles are well written, and their distribution is limited, it’s almost as good as getting ghostwritten content just for you. That way, you get the best of both worlds – quality content at a great price.
Article written by:
Nicole Dean is the owner of www.EasyPLR.com – where you’ll find high-quality PLR articles sold in very limited quantities. The PLR articles at EasyPLR are professionally written and professionally edited — top quality at an affordable price.
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Wow! Nicole that was awesome information. Thanks so much for making everything so clear for us. I appreciate you coming by and I hope you’ll come back soon!
Did you enjoy Nicole’s post? Do you have something you’d like to say? Please leave a comment below.
p.s. I’d love for you to join me on Facebook too!
In the previous post I showed you the first 3 of 6 different kinds of blog posts. We will continue on with the next 3 here.
4. Interviews
Although these require a bit of preparation, they can be very valuable to your blog. You can interview someone in your niche and share the results of the interview with your blog readers. This will not only help provide valuable content for your blog, but you can also get more traffic to your blog. Likely, the person who you are interviewing will publicize the event on their blog and around the ‘net which will bring more traffic back to you.
5. How to posts
Like quick tips, how to posts help you provide valuable information to your readers. However, unlike quick tips, these posts go into detail on a certain topic. Some how to posts are even separated out into two or three part courses. For ideas on what to create how to posts about, look at the most frequently asked questions in your niche and develop posts around those topics.
6. Article Posts
You can use articles found in article directories that are relevant to your blog. All you have to do is go to EzineArticles.com or any of the other dozens of article directories on the Internet. These articles were published to use on other web sites and are free to use. Just make sure that you always keep the authors bio and links in tact. That’s the only way you are allowed to use these articles. For SEO purposes you should have about 10 of your own posts with original content on your blog before you start posting articles others have written.
I’d love to hear what you think. Leave a comment below.
