Archive for the ‘Blogging Tools To succeed’ Category

If there is one thing alot of small business owners have in common, it’s lack of capital. There’s also lack of time, but that’s a whole different post, even though it is a huge roadblock for many when it comes to blogging.

There are many different ways to attract business, but blogging can be one of the most cost effective forms of small business marketing. Blogging levels the playing field. It doesn’t matter how small or large your business is when it comes to a blog…it’s all about content and content is king on the Internet.

What is a blog?
A blog is a series of articles, stories, posts, tips, ideas and any other information that will help visitors understand how your business BENEFITS THEM. Its a way to educate the public, create relevant and searchable content for search engines. It’s articles that will help people use and understand your product, no matter what it is.

What a blog shouldn’t be:
A series of posts and advertisements about your business… The ME…ME…ME should only be sprinkled in….lightly.

What should I blog about?
Your blog should include helpful information about how to use your products, articles that have to do with your product. It should allow people to get to know you. If your a Realtor, you would write blog posts about the real estate market, possibly mortgage tips, area comps, homes for sale, how to choose a Realtor, why marketing includes open houses, how to stage, how to determine the listing price, etc. etc.

Dentist, chiropractors, doctors can use blogs as a way to grow their practices by providing information on health and wellness. Why check-ups are important, patient stories, (with patient permission) with examples of how people have changed their lives, gotten healthy or are staying healthy. It allows people to get to know you as well. What you care about, who you are as a person and why people would want to do business with you.

A few tips for your blog;

Don’t assume because you created a blog post, Google will automatically find your site. You must invite Google to crawl your site by submitting your site and your “site-map” to Google. There are tools in Word Press like “All in One SEO Pack” that can make this process pretty simple and I encourage you to add them to your blog as soon as possible, to get Google invited to the party.

Your blog should ALWAYS include a way to reach you, follow you, like you, etc. Including an RSS feed and encouraging people to subscribe is also important. Having a “Contact Me” form is a must. You have to make it easy for people to reach out to you in the way that works best for THEM, if you can accommodate that method. Giving options meeting people where they are…how can that be a bad thing?

I hope you’re encouraged to find time to blog. It’s a way to share your passions and what got your business started, what drives you and how you can help. Blogging needs to be part of a weekly routine and scheduled in, so it always happens. It’s as important as keeping the phone lines or the lights on.

P.S. Thank you for taking your time to visit and hope you find the information useful. I hope to help you learn everything you want and need to know about blogging. I welcome your questions (site specific is good) and definitely your suggestions. I hope to answer your questions before they come up or when you find that you have one. By clicking on the Orange RSS Feed button on the left side of the screen, you will be automatically updated of new information available without having to "check in" to see what's new. It's the easiest way to keep up to date. Thanks again for stopping in, I value your time!

• To help give some ideas on the structure of a blog, I have a couple to point out that may not look like blogs, even though they are. A blog can be set up to look like a blog or to have the look and feel of a website. These websites are actually blogs, built in Joomla, which you can learn how to use by visiting www.onlinebusinessacademy.net.

• When you register at Online Business Academy, you have access to all of the video tutorials that teach you how to build in Joomla. Though this blog is in Word Press, I really do prefer Joomla as a platform and find I more flexibility with it.

• Another site that was built using Joomla as a platform is “San Ramon Homes”, address http://www.mysanramonhomes.com.  Because PrinterBees really does specialize in working with the real estate community, this is an example of one of the sites we have put up to help one of our “San Ramon Realtor” clients.

• The website/blog for Livermore Martial Arts was also built in Joomla, which again you can learn more about by visiting Online Business Academy.

• Happy Blogging and Web Site building.  It isn’t too difficult to get your own sites up with some great how to blog tutorials like the ones mentioned above or on this blog on “how to blog”.

I have talked about “mixed” media being very important to the success of your blog and adding video to your blog being part of that “mixed media”. The Flip Mino camcorder combines remarkable video quality in a pocket-sized package that’s designable. Free Shipping Order Here!

I can personally attest to video camera The Flip being one of the greatest little gadgets for adding video to your site.  It is the size of a deck of cards, weighs next to nothing, it is SUPER easy to use, records in high definition, and loading the recorded video to your site could not at all be easier.  You “flip” out the USB plug, plug it in to your USB port and start importing!

Videos can be imported on any computer because the software you need to import is IN the video camera! And…one of the best parts, you can upload straight to YouTube once you import if you have no edits to the video!

The software it comes with the camera includes editing tools that allow you to cut out parts of your video you dont want included as well as combining your videos in to  one video if you record in a few different sessions.  I have been very pleased with my purchase and always have a quality video camera on hand for recording whatever comes up because it is so small and light.  “The Flip” video camera is a great addition to your bag of tricks to including mixed media on your blog and allowing people to get to know you alot better by recording yourself and adding it to your blogs.  People will keep coming back to your blog when they really feel they can connect with you.  Happy blogging and get yourself “A Flip”!  , it is currently on special and the model pictured is just over $100.  When you read the reviews, which there are currently 62 of, 49 people of the 62 gave this product FIVE STARS!

There is more than one model available, so make sure you check out the different models before you decide which one is the best for you. The Flip Mino camcorder combines remarkable video quality in a pocket-sized package that’s designable. Free Shipping Order Here!
$10 Off on Flip Camcorders with Coupon Code”Flip10″: Mino, MinoHD,Ultra, and UltraHD-Special Terms Apply Exp. 9/30/09

At the time of writing this post, the book Trust Agents
is hitting the Internet by storm, currently at #41 ON AMAZON! and is considered a must read by top blogging authorities.

In this book, these two social media veterans show you how to tap into the power of social media networks to build your brand, build and manage your reputation, and make profits.

Learn how to use the social media networks to build networks of influence and how they can positively impact your business.  Because trust is key to building online reputations, you need to learn how to become a “trust agent”.

Blogging as a business is just like any thing else you want to be successful at.  You must do your homework, follow direction from those who are already successful at it,  and become an authority showing your commitment to your readers.

It is currently 33% off and at $16, a small investment, when you consider the potential return on that investment.  Read the execute!

The reviews on Amazon are a strong 5 out 5 by every person who has read and reviewed the book.  Trust Agents