I decided after getting every guru’s emails about their goals for 2010 or how much more money they were going to make or for that matter how much they made this year, that rather than sharing the same crap, that I would share something that really has value. I am all about value anyway! So, here goes…my tips for Blog Success in 2010.
No matter what anyone tells you, remember this:
#1 – Content is King! Yes, its an old and overused (or used to be) phrase, but its every bit as important today as it was years ago! I firmly believe that written content is where its at, but, there are certain niches that an article would not be as appealing to readers as it would be on another. You need to have a plan and determine what is the most important for your readers or potential readers.
Having said that, I also believe that video and audio play a big part in how some visitors/readers connect to a blog. I would suggest incorporating audio and video along with your written posts.
Tag your posts with no more than 7 keywords (if you are using the SEO plugin you can have 7 different keywords or different variations of the same keywords) for each post. If you have an uncategorized category on your blog, CHANGE IT!! Make it the default keyword for your blog, i.e. if your blog is about how to blog, then make your “uncategorized” category Blogging or blog whatever has the higher search volume.
#2 – Set up your feeds through a service like FeedBurner or something similar.
#3 – Have your RSS submissions done twice per month (you will be writing a minimum of 3 posts per week, so you will have some updating to do!).
#4 - Have an email optin form and a giveaway!
#5 – Have a series of autoresponder emails.
#6 – Have a product of your own or an affiliate product to promote to your readers and list.
#7 – Have an About page and a Contact page. Make sure that both these pages are filled with information that will make your readers more informed about you or your company, which will make trusting you and thinking of you as “their source” or “the authority” on your topic come more naturally and probably quicker.
#8 – Use social media sites to help you connect with those who want to hear your message. Also, use these sites to monitor what others in your niche are doing.
#9 – Be in the know about what is happening in your niche and be the ONE Making Things Happen in your niche. Never forget that others around you are probably in the same boat as you, even if they seem like they have it all, we are all at similar places, just at different levels.
#10 – Use social sites to post and link about what you are doing on your blog and to share others information. Helping others will return the same back to you. If you find a great tweet by someone, retweet it. If you are sent a great link or discover one from someone else, share it. Don’t always send money making info. Comment on good posts. Its great to tweet them, and you should, but if there is something you can add, you should share it. Not only will commenting be good for the blog owner, but you as well.
I could go on and on…and I might add a few more things to this list, but, this is where I have seen an incredible growth in my own business. You never know what opportunity may come around the corner and you should be prepared, but I guarantee that if you don’t have a place to send people, and have information that they can readily use now, it will be an uphill battle to show that you are worthy of their time and energy.
Share your ideas and suggestions here with the rest of us!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
These are some great tips from a content perspective. I would like to see some innovative blog monetization tactics, though.
Great post, thanks
These are great tips and I have more than I thought I would have going for my blog. However, I thinking about getting into affiliate marketing and I find that I’m missing three important things – 1) a good working knowledge of the Wordpress back end and all the nuances of meta tagging, etc., 2) a decent niche to start out with and 3) a giveaway and ongoing newsletter.
I just started reading you, Jack. I’m hoping for some good guidance!
@Australian Woman
It kind of depends on what niche you are in, but the soft sell is what is working best for many niches right now. I will think on this and see what I can come up with.
Ken,
The best advice I can give is to join BlogSuccess (I won’t be compensated for you joining). Having known Jack is top notch and the questions you raised are covered in BlogSuccess, as well as having great staff and other great members to learn from inside the walls at BlogSuccess. I will look at writing some on the topics you discussed in the coming weeks. You should also do a few searches here on FTR (FridayTrafficReport), because Jack has years of information here, and all of it is valuable.
wonderful tips, if we provide great content we will build great readership. but it depends our character to describe it into words.
RE:Have an email optin form and a giveaway!
Have a series of autoresponder emails.
The object is to become a “trusted source” of
valuable information.
If you don’t have a product of your own to
give away as an incentive to join your list,
create your unique incentive package from
a combination of products offered in the
free giveaway events.
Here’s a link that posts regular info on worthwhile
giveaway events.
http://giveawayeventssite.com/
Obviously, your incentive package should be
related in theme to the basic content of your
newsletter/opt-in list.
Robert
Hi Jack
That’s a great succinct summary of stuff to get right for ‘10. I like the lack of publicly trumpeted ‘money goals’. After all, we’re here to help others first. And that should be our visible focus. You carry a big torch, and I’m here to learn.
Many thanks
Anthony
I agree with your suggestions, they are really good ones. i also add a privacy policy page just because I think it might be helpful to have it. Maybe the search engine like it too, but who knows.
Jeff @ Canned Cat Food´s last blog ..Friskies Chicken, Liver and Fish Canned Cat Food