Strategies to get your blog noticed
Writing exceptional blog content is crucial (Take these simple steps to create exceptional blog content), the task involves more than correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. When it comes to effective blog content, one of the main keys is visibility and this is supported by SEO skills. In other words, it’s not simply a matter of writing something compelling. The best blogs are well written and structured effectively (e.g., using title and headline tags to the fullest advantage, linking with powerful anchor text, etc.) so that they can be easily found, indexed by search engines, and promoted by others.
Turn your blog content into great content that markets itself
- Write for people and search engines. Using your blog statistics (Blog statistics for business — What to monitor and why) you can learn what phrases and words people use to find your site. Use tools like WordTracker to learn about popularity of keywords and use those that will help you stand out.
- Consider your entire post (and site for that matter). Do you use pretty permalinks (like mine) or the default ones that don’t tell users anything (ones that look like this http://yoururl.net/blog/?p=123)? Are you writing useful titles and using <h1> or <h2> tags inside your posts or simply making some copy bold? Are your page descriptions “junked up” with the full name of your blog?
- Make it easy for others to promote your work. Though you don’t want your site overloaded with plugins, it’s crucial that you give readers easy ways to pass along your work. This includes ways to add your content to social media and bookmarking sites like StumbleUpon, Sk*rt, Digg, Delicious. I also encourage you to have features that allow your users to print and email your posts.
Since you all know that even these tips don’t guarantee that your content will be promoted widely, it’s important to have content marketing skills of your own. Read how Chris Mitchell got Seven Tips for Taking a Laptop Traveling, his post, featured to two big traffic sites.
Expert advice on search engine optimization for your blog
I have beginner’s SEO knowledge, so I’m going to share some links to others who have a lot to say on the topic. There will be some redundancy here, yet sometimes reading the same advice multiple times helps it sink in.
- Entrepreneur Yaro Starak gives you the scoop on how to wisely use your time for search engine placement The 80/20 Of Search Engine Marketing - Part 1 and The 80/20 Of Search Engine Marketing - Part 2.
- Stephan Spencer reminds you not to be foolish in his post, Twelve SEO Mistakes Most Bloggers Make.
- Shari Thurow clarifies her thinking about writing for optimization in her post When Content Isn’t King in SEO.
If you have tips to share that have helped you make your blog highly visible to the right people, drop a line in the comments section.
Related posts which may interest you
Custom blog design — a must have for business blogs
There are three main options to choose from when creating your blog design. Though a business can use any of these options, I heartily discourage you from choosing option #1 for a professional blog. This is for the same reason that I don’t advise people to have hotmail accounts for business — the message is that you don’t invest in your business and you don’t care about creating a professional image.
Options to getting the look and feel you want in your blog’s design
- Use free blogging systems and select one of the preformatted templates/themes = your blog looks like many other blogs out there.
- Use a blogging system that allows modifications then thoroughly customize the look (more than just changing a couple of colors) = a fairly unique look that can complement your business brand and make the aesthetic statement you desire. This blog customization is what I do for many of my clients.
- Use a blogging system that allows modifications and hire a very-experienced designer to create a theme just for you = you’ll have a blog built entirely to your specifications.
Reasons to customize the look of your business blog
You’ll stand out from the crowd- You’ll convey professionalism for your business
- You’ll have a consistent, visual brand for your company
- You’ll be more likely to blog (that’s what my clients tell me)
- You’ll have a blog (or blogsite) that you proudly promote
- All these factors combined will help you attract visitors, retain them, and draw them into your circle of satisfied clients!
“If you are using one of those themes [widely available free themes], when new visitors stumble across your blog they are likely to note they have already seen it several times before. The fact that you haven’t taken the time to visually differentiate your blog might well leave your visitors thinking that if your blog design isn’t unique, then what you have to say probably isn’t either.”
~ Unique Blog Designs
