This reader engagement doesn’t just happen automatically, however. You’ll need to work at incorporating strategies to keep them on your site. Here are a few suggestions:

• Link to previous posts within your blog content. This strategy can benefit you in many different ways. For one, it can help turn your blog into a better resource for your readers, which is kind of the whole point of what you’re doing. Let’s say your reader came into your plumbing blog on a post about how to fix a leaky bathroom sink. If you did a similar post about shower fixtures six months ago, you can always mention it with a link to the post. You’ve created a quick way for readers to jump around within your site. A word of caution, however. Make sure that your linking stays relavent. Also, don’t over do it. When there’s way too much blue in a  post it looks spammy. 
• Make it easy for your readers to act. If you want them to do something, you have to tell them by creating a strong call to action. Don’t make them go on a scavenger hunt for your contact information. You’ll only frustrate your readers, causing them to leave before they find what they’re looking for.
• Write something worth reading. No one wants to stick around for posts littered with grammar and spelling errors. No one wants to stick around for a wandering, meandering post that makes no sense to begin with. Figure out what your readers are looking for and provide it. Period. Make it punchy\, and make it fit your larger point.
• Keep things conversational. Another turn off for readers is content that totally misses the mark. Check your industry vocabulary at the door. Chances are your customer base and readership don’t know as much about your industry as you do. Explain things in ways that are easy to understand.
• Make sure things are updated. When you land on a brand new web page, the last thing you want to see is “Copyright 2006″ right there in the footer. If you have blog posts visible on the home page, make sure that they’re recent work.
• Keep a contemporary design. WordPress themes are continuously making this easier, but it may still mean utilizing the help of a designer for your logo, graphics, or theme modifications. Sorry though, animated GIFs scream 1990s. You don’t want to give people the impression you went out of business two decades ago.

As a reader, what else causes you to close the browser window? What are your web surfing pet peeves that will cost a company your business?

The post Six Ways To Keep Readers On Your Blog appeared first on Matthew L. Brennan | Marketing Writer.

You need to publish content that’s awesome. It needs to provide value and distinguish you from the others in the search results, news feeds and Twitter streams of your readers.

Part of this is knowing how to write well, and that means grammar and spelling. Are you wishing for a blog with more comments? Misspell something. Readers will notice you, and not in a good way.

At best, these kinds of errors distract from your message. They also erode trust with your readership. Your audience may begin to wonder what you really know about your subject matter.

Lots of businesses hire an accountant to keep their books. They may want to hire a marketing writer or content editor to help distinguish them from the competition.

For the DIY business owners out there, you have a few options.

Read before you publish. Do a quick cursory read in your head to ensure things make sense. Make sure all of your its, theirs, ours and yours are in the correct form. If you don’t know, that means learning the difference.

Read your work out loud. You’d be surprised what your eyes miss and your ears catch. This is a great way to do a final copy edit for web content or blog posts. It can also help you set the tempo of your writing.

Show your writing to someone else. The more you edit your own piece the more familiar you are with it. Someone else may immediately see the error that you’ve glossed over countless times. Build relationships with your fellow bloggers and don’t be afraid to ask someone to take a quick look before you hit publish.

Pay attention to those red squiggly lines. Here’s a secret. I’m not the world’s greatest speller. The good news is that computers have taken virtually all the guess work out of the equation. When you don’t know, look it up. Run spell check. Let your computer do the grunt work, but you’re not completely off the hook. If you’re using the wrong word or the wrong form of a word, spell check is not going to catch it. You still need a decent understanding of the English language.

Don’t get caught by the proofreading police. Mistakes in your content marketing campaign can come with a price tag in lost business.

The post Don’t Let Sloppy Writing Cost You Business appeared first on Matthew L. Brennan | Marketing Writer.

Copyblogger recently wrote about the Amazing Copywriting Machine. This machine was supposed to get the businesses lined up with the perfect copy, engineered to make sales. But with all the spammy calls to action, industry vocabulary, adjectives and testimonials, it swung and missed.

Nothing. Crickets.

How do you avoid that?

The real guide to writing for people: 

• Humanize it. Write a headline and lead sentence that will engage your readers. Tease them, promise them, move them. Then spend the rest of your copy delivering on what you set out to do. Write conversationally. Pretend like you’re telling your reader whatever it is that you have to say over a cup of coffee. This will help keep out those geek-speak industry buzzwords. For the love of God, PLEASE write with a little personality. This isn’t Wikipedia.
  
• Include your opinion. That’s right. There’s nothing here that says you have to be objective. If others in your industry are dishing out some bad advice, tell us why it sucks. Be open and honest with your readers. Remember, they’ve landed on your site looking for some expert industry advice. If your opinions prove credible, and you know what you’re talking about, you’re well on your way to establishing trust.
• Limit your sells. Marketer Chris Brogan calls them his “selly sells.” From time to time he’ll drop them into his copy. But you know what? He focuses his entire work in a conversational tone aimed right at you, the reader. His work is highly informative and provides value.
• Tell anecdotes. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of “I and me” in your work. The point is for those who read your blog and visit your website to start to know you. Don’t be afraid to share a little from your personal life. For instance, I’m busy listening to Led Zeppelin and drinking coffee as I write this. You never know what serves as a connecting point with others. Just keep them relevant, and make sure that they don’t distract from whatever larger point that you’re trying to make.
• Make it about your readers. It’s OK to share a little, but no one likes a blowhard. You know the guy at the networking event that drones on for five minutes at the networking event after you asked him what he does? Don’t be him. Share tips. Impart knowledge. Be entertaining and friendly. If you’re not sure what your audience is really looking for, ask. And don’t be afraid to interact with them. Respond to comments, and email one every once in awhile to show them that you’re real.
• Change things up a bit. Your readers can visit the list of “A list” bloggers in your industry and find some great tips on the trade. Unless you’re part of that “A list” chances are your readers have seen those tips before. What’s your take on them? Is there one that stands out as more important than the others? Is there one that’s total B.S? Or, a pleasant alternative is to make your own list, with your own ideas.

The key is to provide your readers something they won’t get other places on the web. Make it something fun and personable. Make it something that differentiates you from the pack. Stay busy writing content, but don’t be the Amazing Copywriting Machine.

The post How To Hook Your Audience On What You Have To Say appeared first on Matthew L. Brennan | Marketing Writer.

The thing is, that over the years the rest of the world began to catch up. With the advent of the Internet, there’s no real industry secrets as far as how these widgets are made. The result? He no longer has a stranglehold on the widget-making industry.

His widgets and the widgets made in Chicago, L.A, and New York are essentially the same. So what is a long-time widget maker to do?

Jack needs some product differentiation

Because the widgets are essentially the same, it’s difficult to maintain Jack’s identity. That widget-making results page on Google is crowded territory. Jack’s dirty little secret is that using widgets from anywhere else is no longer any different than using his.

Jack needs the assistance of a good designer. He needs a logo. He needs quality graphics. He needs to give people a visual look at what doing business with a trusted, long-time widget maker looks like.

Past that, Jack needs some quality content. The pages on Jack’s website ought to tell people exactly what to expect from doing business with Jack. He needs a quality “about” page that tells the company’s story going back to the days of his grandpa.

He needs quality product descriptions outlining the benefits of each individual widget. When customers shop for widgets, they want a good idea of what each one does, and what the features mean for them. The most frustrating thing in the world to widget shoppers is going to a page that contains generic content, not for the item that they’re actually looking to purchase.  

He also needs a blog. For Jack to truly stand out in this day and age, he needs to become the widget making resource for his customers. He needs to give his customers tips for widget shopping. He needs to share the glorious life that owning a widget brings. He needs to provide consistent value for those looking to learn a bit about widgets.

When widget shoppers see what Jack knows, they’ll stick around to buy from him.

Once people trust Jack, and feel good about doing business with him, he can stand out again as the premier widget maker.

The post How Jack Gets His Widget Factory Back appeared first on Matthew L. Brennan | Marketing Writer.

I’m sitting in front of the computer, and I know that I’m a couple of days overdue for a blog post. But my favourite online store is having a sale, and I’m having a great chat on Facebook…  Oh, and the floor needs a vacuum, and I should start an exercise regime.

I’m sure we’ve all been there. We start a blog with the best of intentions. We are full of excitement and enthusiasm, yet months (or days?) later the newness wears off and there comes a time when you know you should write a post but you don’t want to.

It happens to all of us. So what can we do to get through the slump? Here are three ways you can get through it until the enthusiasm comes back. And it does come back, I promise!

Record Your Ideas and Inspirations

My dad always said he was saving his money for a rainy day. The same can be done for blog ideas. Record your blog post ideas down as they come to you. This way, when you are feeling uninspired you have a list of ideas ready to go.

I personally use Evernote to record my ideas. Usually inspiration strikes me in the middle of the night as I’m drifting off to sleep. I roll over, write an email on my phone and send it off to my Evernote account.

You can also use Evernote for recording other’s posts for inspiration and research. If you are reading someone else’s blog post and you have a different way of doing things or you have ideas to expand on it, save the post in Evernote to remind yourself later of it; After all, how many times have you thought to yourself “I know I’ve read about that recently but I have no idea where” and your google fu brings no results – that’s when I’m happy for Evernote. (Evernote also saves the URL from where it came from so you know the original source).

With your supply of notes and inspirations in Evernote (or your own way of recording them) you will never experience a legitimate writer’s block again.

Do It All At Once

The best way to write your blog posts involves setting aside a chunk of time and writing a whole heap of posts at once. This process is called Batch Processing, and it is a way to not only be highly efficient, it also stops you falling into the “I don’t feel like it” trap.

Set aside a day – or every night for a week, whatever suits your schedule – to write as many blog posts as you can. Depending on your writing style, maybe you will pump out 4-8 posts at once. You can then schedule them to go live on your blog over a period of time.

Depending on your posting schedule, you may be able to pump out a week to a whole month’s worth of posts at once. This way you are always ahead; and if blog-itis sets in you have a bit of leeway until you have to get your stuff together.

Love What You Do

In the end you will get over your hump. At least, I have and I have been blogging for thirteen years. I’ve had my ups and downs but I have always come back to it because I love doing it.

If blogging is a chore for you every single time, I would seriously question why you are doing it. If there isn’t a good reason, a reason stronger and more important than needing to like it, then I would reconsider if it is necessary.

At the very least you should be blogging in a topic that is meaningful to you, and in a niche that you are active in so you know what the latest trends are and you know what readers of your niche are experiencing.

If not, then consider if your website or business needs a blog. If it does, hire someone else to write in it. Then you won’t have to worry about not feeling like posting again, saving you time and stress.

What You Need To Do

• Keep a vault of all your ideas and inspiration
• Write a whole heap of posts at once
• Know your enthusiasm will return (or hire a writer)

What do you do when you simply just don’t feel like writing? Let me know in the comments below!

Bio: Carlie Hamilton, the founder of Sproutspire, is a writer, teacher, web designer and entrepreneur. She likes tacos and is devoted to helping you grow your online presence. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook. 

The post How To Write A Blog Post When You Don’t Feel Like It appeared first on Matthew L. Brennan | Marketing Writer.

1. Write Frequently - The goal is to stay front of mind with your readers and customers. A once a month schedule or even less frequently won’t cut it. Write frequently and…
2. Have something to say - You can’t publish garbage. That’s a recipe worse than not publishing at all. What are your opinions? What information can you share? Write it in a compelling enough manner.
3. Read more - Take in more industry books, blogs and magazines. Also don’t be afraid to read outside your industry. How can the ideas be related? Connecting two ideas never meant to be connected is a great way to get real creative.
4. Figure out your mission - You’ll constantly be tweaking and reinventing your image, but it helps to know what you’re doing from the onset.
5. Utilize a designer - Your logo and graphics are going to be what your readers see every time they go to your blog. It’s what initially catches people’s eye and draws them in. Your blog and your website are your online “home base.” Make sure it’s in tip-top shape. This expense will pay for itself down the road.
6. Set achievable goals - I hate to burst your bubble here, but you’re not going to wake up and be rich. If you want to see success with blogging, you’ll need to set achievable goals. What does success look like? How exactly are you hoping to monetize your blog? What are you doing to foster more comments? Take small babysteps in the right direction. Look for signs you might be doing things right.
7. Learn how to write in a compelling fashion - Writers have to work to keep their audience, especially in this day and age when there’s so many options. Make a promise up front in your headline or lead, and then work to keep it. Speaking of…
8. Write headlines that convert - Invest the time in reading a book on headlines such as Headline Hacks. Use this prime real estate in your blog post to compel your reader to continue. For example, “How To” headlines do really well, but there has to be a payoff. Take the headline on this post. People won’t necessarily care about just writing better. But selling more? That’s what this whole business thing is about.
9. Pay attention to your lead - That first sentence is a decision making point for your readers. Are they going to want to continue or drop your post like a bad habit? Tell us why we’re reading. Set the scene. Draw readers in. Give us some statistics. Whatever you have to do.
10. Comment elsewhere - You can’t just build it and expect people to come. It may have worked in an Iowa cornfield, but online you’ll need to participate in other places where conversations are currently taking place. It’s a great way to begin the relationship building process.
11. Guest post - This is a great way to see your byline in big places. It generates traffic and builds credibility. This could be one of the single greatest ways to build your blog audience. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it. Don’t be stingy with what you give away, either. You’re trying to build your audience.
12. Promote offline - When you go to networking events and when you’re talking with clients, don’t be afraid to mention a post that may help people with a specific problem. You’re creating a tool that transforms your website from an advertising piece into an industry resource.
13. Create an on-site blog - This is just making sure that your blog is part of your existing website. All of the momentum you build will then help promote your Internet “home base.” The goal is to drive all of your traffic online. This helps keep people there.
14. Link to previous posts - Make sure people understand you’ve been at it awhile. You’ve been hard at work creating a valuable industry tool. When you allude to something you’ve done before, show your readers how they can get more information on the topic. This is all part of educating them.
15. Link to other resources - Like I said, you’re trying to educate and provide value. If other industry writers have done good work, don’t be afraid to show them. If you’re wondering how you can build a relationship with other bloggers, this is a good way. People take note when you do this. Speaking of…
16. Build relationships with other bloggers - Talk with them about what they know, and what they do to reach their audience. See if there’s a fit to begin a guest posting relationship. These people can become some of your most avid readers and supporters.
17. Find your power relationships - Who have you found off your blog that can bring you repeat business? For instance, I’m a marketing writer, so it makes sense for me to team up with marketing and design agencies, with the possibility of writing content for client projects. Your blog can become a tool and open new doors this way, too.
18. Be yourself - Find your writing voice. Be authentic. Your readers are looking for a real person to do business with. If they can identify with you, things will become easier. Along those lines…
19. Don’t be an industry typist - OK, you know when you read the same five tips on Joe Shmo’s blog that you read on an industry leader’s blog a few weeks back? It’s frustrating. Come up with new tips. Share opinions on existing tips. Your readers are looking for someone who knows what they’re talking about. Be that person.
20. Fight off writer’s block - There are proven strategies over there to defeat that lost feeling when you’re staring at a blank, white screen. Get up and take a walk. Read something else. Step away from the computer. Whatever you have to do, beat off writer’s block.
21. Utilize your social networks - Post your valuable content for your platform to read, but make sure that they see your personal side as well. I’ve had clients who contacted me about thousands of dollars worth of work note talk with me about the fact I’m an avid Bears fan. They’re also anxious to talk with me about my eight week old son. Don’t discount that human connection.
22. Join groups, communities and chats - It’s not enough to simply post on your social platforms and run away. There are general conversations on your industry that are taking place all over Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Plus and Twitter. Join them, and participate. This is how you build relationships and facilitate long-term business.
23. Always work to generate new ideas - You can do this through reading, mind mapping, conducting keyword research or any other countless ways. But exercise that creative right side of the brain. Treat your blog as a creative work of art. Keep generating new blog ideas.
24. Use an editorial calendar - I use WordPress Editorial Calendar. It’s just a great way to get a visual for your publication calendar. You can  also organize your publication schedule by topic or list, if you want to settle into more of a routine. Maybe “How To Tuesday” makes sense for you.
25. Diversify your content - Create an eBook to give away for your mailing list. Get involved with writing articles or producing podcasts or video. It doesn’t have to become a regular thing. Just do it enough to test the waters and find yourself in front of a new audience.
26. Write an awesome “about me” page - The first place readers will go if they’re interested in what you have to say is the “about me.” Make sure that it emphasizes your experience and shows off your human side. There should be a good personal touch with it.
27. Be reachable - Make sure your contact information is easily findable on each page. The whole point of the Internet is to connect. Don’t miss opportunities.
28. Keep your comment section turned on - Nothing frustrates me more than getting to the bottom of a thought-provoking blog post, and not being able to share what I think. This whole blogging thing is about creating a two way conversation. Not just a megaphone platform.
29. Filter your comments - No one wants to see broken English comments that point back to a gold selling business or selling handbags. It’s distracting and unprofessional and those jokers don’t deserve space on your site. It’s spam, people.
30. Personally reach out - Your “thanks for commenting” form is all fine and good, but show people that you actually care. Respond. See what they do. Comment on their stuff. Show them that you care.
31. Don’t shout - If you try to use your blog as a megaphone to sell, people will quickly figure your motives out. It’s a social tool to build relationships. No one wants a commercial. Next tip…
32. Figure out your SEO - It’s easier to figure out your strategy for keywords, tags and categories initially than after the fact. I speak from experience on that one. SEO can be a great tool to bring in a new audience, and it’s inherently good. When people use it to sell their widgets in Chicago, Illinois for people who like widgets and are in the market for widget buying, we get into trouble, your readers brains start to hurt. (That sentence was as painful for me to write as it was for you to read.)
33. Make sharing easy - I use the Sociable plugin, but there are others. Make sure that people have all the relevant links to share your content with their networks. It will make a difference.
34. Figure out the ways you want to make money - Your blog should help you sell more, but it can do more than just that. You can sell affiliate products. You can sell products and/or ad space. There are a wide variety of ways to monetize your blog. You could also become a consultant, speaker or conduct workshops in addition to your current offerings. Slowly unroll different strategies. Experiment and figure out what else works.
35. Don’t let your blog turn into a ghost town - When readers go to a blog and see that they haven’t published in months, they begin to wonder if you’re still in business. Keep active.
36. Monitor your efforts - I use Google Analytics but there are several measurement tools that are available. Figure out what your most popular content is, and link to it. You won’t know how successful your efforts are if you don’t measure.
37. Build a reader profile - Who exactly are you trying to reach? Is your buying demographic mainly male or female? What kind of economic status do they have? How educated are they? What do they do for a living? Keep these types of questions in mind as you’re determining what to write about.
38. Build an email list - This is a great way to promote any future offerings. You can use free content as a way to solicite emails. If you don’t want to write an eBook, one idea would be to compile your 10 most popular posts and give them away in exchange for emails.
39. Write compelling calls to action - Your readers aren’t going to know what you want them to do, unless you tell them. So tell them to fill out your contact form, comment below or whatever other action you want them to take. There’s no psychics here.
40. Keep it conversational - You’re not writing Wikipedia entries. (Unless of course, you are.) The most successful blog posts are in a simple, conversational tone that your audience will identify with. Picture your ideal reader, and pretend you’re out for a cup of coffee. How would you explain any given topic to him or her?
41. Think like a journalist - OK, so as a freelance journalist and former staff reporter I’m a little biased on this one. But, I can tell you that journalists have been engaging their readers for years. They know how to write compelling copy that draws readers in, and invokes emotion. They’re also skilled professional writers with a strong command of the English language. Sounds like a good place to be, right?
42. Remember that it’s quality over quantity - Yes, you need to stay at the forefront of your readers’ minds. But you won’t do that by publishing spammy or bad writing. You do that by being thought-provoking and valuable. That means knowing your audience well, and continuing to practice the craft.
43. Know where your readers congregate - You’ll need to understand the online habits of your audience, if you’re looking to draw their attention. For example, I aim a lot of what I do at small business owners and marketing agencies. Small business owners tend to be on LinkedIn, where I have a strong profile, and presence in groups. Marketers and designers tend to be active on Google Plus and Twitter. I try to reach them where they’re at by joining their conversations.
44. Always write for people - It’s like a lightbulb going off in small business owners’ heads. “You mean I can use the same word 50 times in a 400 word document and rank well on Google?” Well, maybe. But you won’t stay there very long, and your audience won’t listen to a word. Always aim your material at the person with the wallet. Google doesn’t buy your product, your customers do.
45. Make it easy to navigate - Allow your readers to search. Provide popular posts, recent posts, or some other way for them to access more content. There’s a great WordPress widget out there called nRelate, that will give readers a choice of similar content from your website. All of this tempts them to stay on your site longer, which is always a good thing.
46. Ask your readers what they want for content - This is a surefire way to keep them interested and engaged in the material that you’re publishing. Remember, the goal is to create a valuable resource out of your website. That way, they’ll know where to turn when it’s time to buy.
47. Subscribe to other great content - Always be looking for other great resources in your industry. Use Google Blog Search and Technorati to find more great content. Sometimes you can find other great blogs just by going through the comment sections on the heavy hitters in your industry. When you find the ones you like, subscribe. That way you’ll regularly see their work.
48. Remove distractions - If a widget or sidebar item doesn’t serve a purpose or proves outdated, remove it. At this point it’s only going to distract your readers from your stated purpose. Everything on your blog page needs to serve a specific function.
49. Remember, blogging is social - You have to engage with readers, work to build your audience and continue to provide content that has your audience in mind. It’s about them. That’s how you build business relationships.
50. Use images - The social web is continuously become more image-based. Using an image with your post forces you to think about the layout and presentation of your post from a visual standpoint. It will also make your work more appealing to share, and that’s the whole goal.

The post 50 Blogging Tips To Help You Build Your Platform appeared first on Matthew L. Brennan | Marketing Writer.

Things sit idle. They gather dust and become cluttered. It’s up to us to bring them back into working order, and clean them off.

Your website is no different. If you haven’t given it any TLC in a little while, it may not work the way they did when you first built it. The design, logo and content may also gather a bit of “dust” and begin to appear dated as styles, concepts, and ideas begin to change.

What can be done? Just like your house or your garage, your website needs a good spring cleaning. This will help your content marketing efforts run a little more smoothly.

Update pages – Do you have live pages for products or services that you’re no longer offering? Has your contact information changed over time? Make sure your website is an active reflection of your business. Don’t give your customers the wrong impression on your offerings. These things should be continuously monitored.

Clean up the backend – If you’re on WordPress make sure that the backend is kept up to date. Update your themes and plugins as quickly as possible. This is more than an organizational / clutter issue. Outdated themes and plugins make it easier for your site to be hacked. Here are a few WordPress security suggestions.

Fix broken links – Broken links are a major pet peeve of readers, customers and Google. Make sure that you go through and either delete the pages or update the links. Nothing is more frustrating than for a reader to be compelled enough to click, and then the promised content is missing. You should probably clean your links up at least every few months.

Update your site – Now is the time to catch up on any long-term housekeeping projects that you were considering. Is your blog on your website instead of offsite? Were there additional plugins you’ve been meaning to add? A few small projects here and there can keep your site humming along in the future. This should be evaluated every few months.

Fresh content and design – If your website sat for long enough, the content and design may no longer be an accurate reflection of what your business is doing. It may be time for a rewrite or redesign. Be honest with yourself. Your site’s an investment. This should be evaluated every few months.

Conclusion – Readers are more advanced than we often give them credit for. When your site shows signs of disarray, they can grow impatient. If you give them a reason to seek out the next search result, they will, so make sure your site is up to date. It’s also good to have a clean, optimal site as you look to continue driving traffic with awesome blog content.

The post Spring Clean Your Website For Optimal Performance appeared first on Matthew L. Brennan | Marketing Writer.

In fact, the blog at MatthewLBrennan.com is now available this way. It’s a great way to increase exposure by placing your work in front of a new audience. As you set your blog up on their site, they offer a keyword section that will help to make your posts more visible.

While the author is compensated, don’t expect to get rich quick. The pricing is $.99 or $1.99 for a subscription, and the author makes 30 percent of that amount. So unless you’re bringing in thousands of subscriptions at a time, the revenues will be minimal.

What’s the advantage to subscribers? 

Readers understandably want to know why they should pay for something they’d otherwise be able to find for free online.

Well, it’s mobility, and convenience. A Kindle blog subscriber can bring these blogs with them on the go, and read them without wifi. Having your favorite blogs sent to your Kindle can make an excellent Google Reader replacement.

Readers will be able to better take in your blog away from the buzz and distractions that come with the Internet and email.

Making The Change

In all honesty, I only recently made the change to Amazon myself. I didn’t set any monetary goals. If anything, like I said above, it should land me in front of a new audience. Some nice reviews from readers should also have a positive SEO impact. I won’t lose anything by taking the chance.

It’s another opportunity for exposure, which is what digital marketing is all about.

Have you published your blog to Amazon in the past? What are your thoughts on the experience? Has it worked for you?

The post Increase Your Blog Exposure And Create A Revenue Stream With Amazon appeared first on Matthew L. Brennan | Marketing Writer.

It brings you exposure in front of a new audience.  Achieving the right level of SEO for your blog is like walking a tightrope. Not enough or too much, and you’ll fall over on either side.

Here are five SEO mistakes to avoid as you continue to write:

Overreliance On Keywords

People are done hiring plumbers in Chicago who sell their plumbing services to people interested in plumbing. That sentence was probably as painful for you to read as it was for me to write.

Instead, why not focus on actually solving one of your readers’ problems? They may be looking for how to fix a leaky pipe, or tips for hiring a plumber, or the best strategies for avoiding a plumbing emergency. People want to know about this stuff too. You’ll be providing more value.

The danger to this one is alienating the very people you’re working to attract.

Infrequent Posting

The whole idea with a blog is to keep your customers returning. When you blog once a month or less, how are people supposed to remember that you’re out there? You have a lot of competition, and they’re working hard to differentiate themselves from YOU.

So keep posting the right kinds of material, and work as hard as you can to stay in front of them. Exposure is still key in marketing your business, but it has to be informative, entertaining and valuable.

Not Maintaining True Control Of Your Site

Free hosting is not the place where you want to make budget cutbacks as a blogger. When your site is at “domainname.blogspot.com,” naturally your SEO is going to suffer for not having your own name. You also won’t get the control of themes and plugins that you need to truly make your site your own.

WordPress self-hosting is one great option. There’s also Joomla and an assortment of other content management systems designed to hand control over to you. The expenses will be a domain name (usually around $12), a minimal hosting package (usually around $50) and the cost of a theme (usually between $50 and $100).

Not too bad if you’re looking for complete control of your SEO. If you’re running a business, those are costs you can recoup through having your site properly optimized.

Not Utilizing Design Help

Your logo is going to be what people see of your business for (hopefully) a long, long time. Your website and blog are going to be the online “home base” for your business.

Making sure both are visually appealing is crucial. This means a designer for the logo, graphics, and any theme modifications you’re looking to make. Remember, it’s the visual appeal that draws people in. It’s your valuable content that will keep people there.

Mix Up Your Post Descriptions 

The SEO description for your post should give readers an idea what your post is actually going to be about. It’s OK to work a keyword or two in, but make sure people understand what they’re about to read. Remember, you’re trying to draw them in off the search results page.

Bringing It All Together

Remember, blogging is not an overnight solution for dreamy SEO results. It’s going to take patience and a lot of experimentation to determine what the right blogging strategy for your business will be.

Consistently provide the type of awesome, valuable information that your audience is specifically looking for, and you’ll have a winning recipe.

So what’s worked for you in the past? Have you had a blog post that stood out and drove significant traffic? Do you know why?

The post Five SEO Mistakes Bloggers Should Avoid appeared first on Matthew L. Brennan | Marketing Writer.

If you have a retail location to your business, you would constantly reorganize your space to feature different products and keep your customers returning, right?

It only makes sense that you do the same thing on your website. Your web presence needs to be interactive. The days of static HTML sites that don’t ever change are done. Your blog is the most obvious way to create new, interactive content that will keep your customers returning, and that’s why it’s so necessary.

But, there are other ways. Keep restructuring that shelf space. Give your customers a reason to return to your website, and you’ll do a better job of staying fresh in their minds.

Create a free “how to” guide - These work as a great giveaway in exchange for your email address. They’re a great way to deliver quality information in an easily digestible format.

Add new product and services pages - Your website should feature unique content for every product or service that your business offers. Read that again. That’s every product or service. Have you ever been shopping for something online, and passed up on a sale because there was no unique information about the product? It’s a stopping point for many shoppers. You can also create a “featured product” page on your website to make it feel more interactive. Consider this moving that product to the front of the store.

Emails and newsletters - Maintain a closer, personal connection with your contacts by sending them consistent emails or newsletters. To do this well, you’ll have to offer highly valuable information in a personalized form. The inbox is sacred ground for any marketer to be planted. Treat it well.

Infographics - Communicate technical information regarding your business or industry through a well designed graphic, optimized for the visual experience. These have really taken off on various social media platforms.

Video - Video is a great way to offer “how to” information, testimonials, interviews, demonstrations, or any other form of content that you’re looking to convey. They offer a great sense into the personality and style of a business.

Testimonials - You’re expected to be your own advocate. When others speak highly on your behalf, it lends credibility in a way that you cannot achieve on your own. Written or through video, testimonials should be a mainstay on any website.

Case studies - One clear way to provide value is through fact. What tangible benefits have your clients seen? How could you duplicate those results to help your next client? A case study may be one of your best tools to acquire new clients.

eBooks - eBooks can also help convey your knowledge and expertise. Share what you know how to do with your customer base. It may seem like you’re giving valued information away, but when they become overwhelmed with the task at hand it’s you that they’ll turn to.

Guest posts - If you’re looking to expand your audience, sometimes you need to participate in industry conversations that are already taking place. Guest posts are one of the best ways to do that.

The post Nine Forms Of Content Marketing In Addition To Your Blog appeared first on Matthew L. Brennan | Marketing Writer.