Custom Search

Secrets of a Successful Blog Post

Publicat de Mr. Miaghy on 10:36 comentarii (4)

Secrets of a Successful Blog Post
photo by (F)oxymoron and João Trindade

It was one of the best blog posts I’ve ever written, but nobody tweeted it, nobody shared it, nobody commented on it and it drove no traffic to my website.
If you blog with any regularity, I’m willing to bet you’ve witnessed this phenomenon: The great, but unnoticed, blog post.
Sometimes the posts we expect to set the world on fire never produce a spark -- while those on which we barely bother to light the fuse burn themselves into the eyeballs of thousands of readers.
Company, brand and personal blogs are powerful tools we can use to share information, make announcements and introduce ourselves to new clients and strategic partners. The question is -- how can we write blog posts which are optimized for shareability? Is there a method to the madness?
In an effort to isolate some best practices from within the chaos of the blogosphere - I asked three consistently great bloggers to share the secrets of their successful blog posts. Here’s what they told me:

Blogger #1
Erika Napoletano is Head Redhead at Redhead Writing, a Denver-based online strategies consultancy dedicated to keeping companies from looking like idiots online. She’s a columnist for @EntMagazine. Her most recent work is The Shattering, written exclusively for ChangeThis. She’s also the author of The Power of Unpopular.
The successful blog post?
Redhead Writing
My most successful blog post -- with over 16,000 Facebook shares -- has been "Is Facebook Hiding Your Messages?"
Why was it so successful?
It was picked up by some of my readers at Lifehacker and ZDNet and just spread like wildfire!
It was informative, useful, shared a discovery that I'd made out of sheer frustration -- plus I added some humor to it. I add humor to everything -- life and business shouldn't always be so damned serious, y'know?
With the number of people using Facebook, it's crazy how many of them didn't know about what I discussed in the post -- I think the information surprised a lot of them - the same way it surprised me when I discovered it. That’s part of what motivated so many people to share it.

Blogger #2
Gini Dietrich is the founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich, a Chicago-based integrated marketing communication firm. She is the author of the PR and marketing blog Spin Sucks and co-author of the book, Marketing in the Round.
The successful blog post?
Spin Sucks
It looks like “10 Content Ideas that Generate Comments and Shares” is the most popular of 2012 (so far).
Why was it so successful?
There are a few reasons for this:
  • It's highly optimized for search
  • it's a list post (10 ideas)
  • and it's something people are dying to know…how do I get more comments and shares?

Blogger #3
Shelly Kramer is the founder and CEO of V3 Integrated Marketing, located in Kansas City, Missouri. She has been recognized by Forbes as a writer of one of the Top 20 Best Marketing and Social Media Blogs.
The successful blog post?
V3 Integrated Marketing
One of the secrets to a successful blog post is to pay attention to - and write about - things that are trending. For instance, one of my most popular posts was “Brand Crisis in Process? AAA Tipsy Tow New Year’s Eve Service”.
AAA had a program targeting New Year's Eve and safe driving that wasn't a national campaign, but sure did look like one -- and it was being shared all over the Internet.
I immediately saw what a nightmare it could become, dove in, did some research and wrote and published an informative post about it. And, since part of what we do, as an agency, is work with brands to prevent crisis, especially in the social media space, it made sense for us to cover that and get a conversation started.
Why was it so successful?
It was a hugely popular post because it was timely, about something that was in the news and that people care about, and it was also not a stretch for us to cover it (or ridiculous linkbait) ... it really was about a subject matter that we know, and care, a lot about.

What have we learned?
Let’s try to sum it all up: Make sure your blog posts provide timely, coveted and useful information that you’re knowledgeable about -- presented with a touch of humor and an element of surprise. Lean on trending topics. Structure the ideas so they’re easy to read -- and never underestimate the power of SEO.
It all sounds like some great advice to consider as we begin writing our next blog posts - but something's telling me we haven’t fully cracked the code yet - we need to hear from more bloggers!
What are your successful blog posts - and what made them so popular? Continue the conversation with Pomegranate on Facebook and Twitter.

Making a Podcast with Blogger and FeedBurner

Publicat de Mr. Miaghy on 04:59 comentarii (0)

Blogger is not our first choice for weblog-based podcasting. Movable Type and Wordpress are better solutions for many podcasters, because they offer better support for podcasting, more power and greater flexibility.
Nevertheless, many podcasters are finding Blogger to be a good starting place to experiment with podcasting. Blogger is a free service, and getting started is as easy as filling out some forms on the web.
Here's a quick guide to building a podcast with Blogger. You should be able to set up a podcast using Blogger and FeedBurner in about the time it takes for all the images on this page to finish loading!
This how-to assumes that you already have created your podcast MP3 files, and have them stored on a web server. Note that some screens may look slightly different as Blogger updates their site.
Go to the Blogger home page (http://www.blogger.com/) and select Create Your Blog Now:
blogger podcast
If you haven't signed up for Blogger before, you'll need to do so:

That's the hardest part. If the Terms of Service part wore you out, now is a good time to take a break.
Back already? OK - now it's time to name your podcast.
We called ours Snorkflum, because it sounds stupid and this is a bogus test podcast anyway:
snorklflum blogger podcast
Next, select a template. We selected Minima, because it reminded us a little of The Matrix:
blogger matrix snorklflum
Once you select continue, Blogger automagically creates your blog. First it makes you wait, though:
podcast blog blogger podcasting
Don't you love their casual "warning - excitement ahead" sign?
As long as the Blogger servers don't crash, the Internets go down or anything bad like that, you should get a nice confirmation screen:

This is another good time for a break. You just created your podcast blog! How awesome is that?
Now you need to Start Posting...
From the Dashboard page, click the New Post icon:
You're a podcasting mo fo now, baby!
Add an entry. To add your MP3 file, create a text link, select it with the link tool, and enter the URL for your MP3 file:
podcast blogger mp3 file snorklflum
When you are done, select Publish Post, and you should get a confirmation page:
podcast publishing blogger
Now check out the podcast blog that you've created. Snorkflum is available at http://snorkflum.blogspot.com/:


Now take a quick detour to Settings tab and select Basic. Give your site a description. Forgetting to fill out the description is one of the most common problems with Blogger feeds. Use the description field to explain what your podcast is, entice people to listen, and provide some keywords to make it easier for people to find. Save this and republish your podcast for the changes to take effect.
Now it's time to create your podcast feed. Blogger only provides a Atom newsfeed, and RSS 2.0 is the standard for podcasting. Your Atom feed will be at your blog's address, plus "atom.xml", like this: http://snorkflum.blogspot.com/atom.xml.
There is a free service, FeedBurner, that can be used to translate the Blogger Atom feed into a RSS 2.0 fee.
Go to http://www.feedburner.com/, and enter your Blogger Atom feed URL:
feed the burn
Select Next. FeedBurner will retrieve your Blogger Atom feed and then provide you with an options screen.
Select the SmartCast option, and make sure that the Feed Title and FeedBurner URI (way down at the bottom of the page) are OK with you:
snorklflum podcast feedburner stuff
Select Next. You'll be prompted for a user id and password. Next, you should get a confirmation/welcome page:
podcast blogger feedburner
Note your FeedBurner Burned URL. In this case, it's http://feeds.feedburner.com/Snorkflum.
That's it - the podcast is ready to test with a Feed Validator. Go to www.feedvalidator.org and paste in your FeedBurner URL:
feed validator confirmation
Your podcast should be ready to go. Test it your podcast feed with a podcasting client and get podcasting!

Tips to Choose the Best Theme for Your WordPress Blog

Publicat de Mr. Miaghy on 00:57 comentarii (0)

Here in this article we’ll discuss some of the tips which will help you in choosing the best theme for your WordPress blog.

Why You Need a Theme?

This is the first and the most question you can ask yourself. Every web page has its own objective and this objective will significantly impact the type of concept you should be looking for.
WordPress was initially designed to perform with conventional written text weblogs, but over the years this objective has progressed into something much wider. These days, WordPress can efficiently run almost any type of web page.
WordPress Premium Themes

Some possible programs include:
  • Video blogs: This is a new type in the running a blog community. Every day there are more and more blog owners who present their articles specifically through movie.
  • Photo weblogs (or visual portfolios): These weblogs are popular among professional photographers and developers who want to display their perform.
  • Online magazines: These sites are designed around the concept of posting information from a given area, often along with an illustrative picture to go along with written text articles.
  • Business sites: These sites are possessed by all types of experts and agreement employees, from dental practitioners and tailors, to experts and instructors … and more!
  • Traditional blogs: These are run by people who want to discuss their own articles. Mostly, conventional weblogs are written text only articles. In other terms, these are weblogs like we know them.
  • Corporate sites: Big companies have a little bit different concept of what an excellent website contains, and that is why the business design has put their hands up.
  • Software/app/product sites: Some companies are designed around a given item or an application. The sites of such companies usually concentrate on the item, rather than on the company itself.
  • Small to medium-sized company sites: Such companies often discover it difficult to choose a web design. The business design is too big, and an item web page just does not seem to fit many service-based companies.
  • Real-world, internet company sites: This is a type of web page that is focused towards all types of physical companies, like resorts, dining establishments, exhibits, departmental stores, and every other brick-and-mortar company possible.
There are probably hundreds of other types of sites that WordPress can manage, but let us just stop here as we’re sure you get the concept.
Whatever you wish your web page will end up to be, you have to begin with its objective. That objective will recommend specific objectives for your web page, and its design should indicate those objectives. Only when you have chosen what exactly is essential for your upcoming web page and what is not, can you begin looking for a concept.
Genesis WordPress Theme Selector

A step-by-step Guide

A quick step-by-step information on how to choose the perfect concept for your blog:
  1. Start with the objective of your web page. When you decide what you need the web page for, you will be able to list its most essential traits—traits you need the concept to assist.
  2. Note information about the styles you are considering. Some opportunities include: price and certificate, SEO helpful framework, interface with every web browser, personalized design, different colors available, easily flexible headlines, widget-ready areas, customized website assistance, movie and picture helpful, and assistance for social networking incorporation.
  3. Let us quotation our self: If you see a concept, and it does not create you think something like “wow, this is great!”, never get it.
  4. Make sure that the concept is not over-used in your market.
  5. Try to discover some client or professional opinions.
  6. Make sure that certification and assistance is available for the concept.
  7. Make sure that the concept is up to date with the current edition of WordPress.
Even though it seems like there can be much to do when choosing a concept, it can actually be proved helpful through very quickly. You just need to know where to look for the most essential info.
Essentially, choosing an excellent concept is like choosing any other product—digital or otherwise. You just need to know what you are looking for.

How to Become a Professional Blogger

Publicat de Mr. Miaghy on 12:20 comentarii (0)

Blogging has evolved from an easy, free way for writers to share their thoughts and insights with readers around the world to a slightly more complicated tool for generating income by posting content to the Internet. Bloggers can earn money by owning and controlling their content or by selling it to websites that generate revenue from it. In either case, you will want to first establish your blog and the generate a loyal following of readers.

Decide on a Business Model

Step 1

Read articles on the two main business models you can to use to generate income from blogging. Decide if you want to establish your own website, open your own pay-per-click advertising and affiliate accounts and sell banner ads, or if you want to write professionally for someone else's website.

Step 2

Evaluate different blogging programs such as WordPress, Drupal or Blogger. Decide which one will best suit your needs for creating and posting content and generating revenue.

Step 3

Look for programs that let visitors comment on your blog posts. Determine whether they will be moderated or not to prevent spam and inappropriate comments, and how much work it will take you to allow comments on your site.

Step 4

Examine the statistics tool that comes with your chosen blogging software or consider adding tracking code such as Analytics or Quantcast. These will help you learn how to track visitor statistics on your blog.

Step 5

Visit the websites of pay-per-click programs such as AdSense, Chitika or AdBrite, and affiliate programs such as Amazon Associates, Shopzilla and ValueClick to research how these programs work.

Step 6

Visit the Facebook, Google and Twitter websites to learn how to add their Like, +1 and Tweet plugins, respectively. These will allow visitors to your blog share your posts with friends.

Owning Your Blog

Step 1

Prepare a list of topics about which you can write interesting articles on a regular basis. Perform search engine research to see how much competition you have for these topics.

Step 2

Choose a topic with wide interest but not massive competition. For example, a generic weight-loss blog mighty not be able to compete with the many similar blogs and websites already established on that topic. A weight-loss blog targeting new mothers, senior men or teen boys might give you a better chance to succeed. Instead of a generic gardening blog, consider a vegetable garden blog for those living in the Southeastern United States.

Step 3

Integrate the blogging software, revenue-generation tools and social media plug-ins you have chosen and put your blog live on the Internet. Populate it with content. Include your credentials for writing on your topic.

Step 4

Add keywords to your posts that will help people searching for information on your chosen topic find you. Analyze your website statistics to learn which of your articles and/or keywords is generating the most page views for your blog. Find out which of your pages is generating the most Facebook Likes and Twitter Tweets.

Step 5

Continue blogging using your website statistics to guide the type of content you create. Monitor and respond to posts on your site to create a stronger community and generate more repeat visitors.

Blog for Someone Else

Step 1

Follow the previously outlined steps you would use to create your own blog to begin generating traffic and a following. Don’t include the steps for generating revenue if that is not your goal.

Step 2

Research websites that have or need similar content to what you offer to determine which might hire you as a blogger. Visit the Huffington Post for an example of a website that aggregates different blog topics around a main theme -- in this case, politics. Look for commercial websites that offer topics that revolve around a broader theme.

Step 3

Research companies that make products or sell services related to your topic area and propose that they add a blog to their website for their clients and potential customers. Contact commercial businesses, trade associations and nonprofit charities and foundations.

Step 4

Prepare a proposal that includes an overview of your blog content, your credentials, how your blog relates to the site for which you’re proposing to write, and how it would interest the customers of advertisers on the site. Also include your blog traffic statistics.

Step 5

Contact the websites for which you hope to blog to gauge their interest. Have a fee in mind, based on how many posts they will want per day or week, and the word count of each post. There are no set standards for blogging traffic and pay, so take your lead from your potential new partner. You should know in advance what how much money you need to make as a professional blogger so it is worth your while.

Blog Rules & Policies

Publicat de Mr. Miaghy on 11:01 comentarii (0)

To make things easier for new bloggers, it may be worthwhile to create a document that goes over the rules and policies of the blog.  This will help the blogger gain a better understanding of the blog work-flow and how things are run (every blog is a little different).
Here are some things you should have in this document.
Blog Policies
You should have a brief list of things you should not have in your posts.  This can include copy-protected content, offensive language, defamation or slander statements, etc…
Especially for new bloggers who are not familiar with the readership, it would be worth it to write a few paragraphs about your target audience and the people who read your blog.  This will help the bloggers come up with topics that are catered to the blogs readers.
Writing Process
Probably the most important part of managing a blog with multiple authors is having a clear writing process.  Depending on your relationship with your bloggers, each process is going to have slight variations.
Here is a pretty straightforward process you can follow:
  1. Submit Blog Topics for Approval (to blog editor/manager)
  2. Approve and Set Due Date
  3. Write Post
  4. Submit as Pending Approval
  5. Edit if Necessary (editor or back to blogger)
  6. Set Launch Date and Time
  7. Monitor and Reply to Comments
Payments
Provide a summary of how bloggers will be paid.  Include how much each blog post is worth, along with a breakdown of pricing if you have tiers for factors like post length or post type.  Explain how and when the blogger will be paid.  Some blogs will pay at the end of the month, others will pay after each post…it just depends.  Some blogs will use Paypal, others will send by direct deposit or check.

Custom Search