Adding new visitor traffic to your website is always a challenge. Finding fresh and innovative promotional techniques is often as difficult as creating fresh content.
Wait a minute! Why not accomplish both goals at the same time? By working with your current link exchange partners, and other website owners with businesses that complement yours, both goals are achievable.
Every website requires new content to provide interesting information for your site visitors. The same old stale articles won’t bring in much in the way of return traffic.
The various search engines give extra credit for site freshness and incoming links. Every article you provide to other webmasters provides them with new content. It provides your site with a themed incoming link. The same holds true for guest articles hosted on your site.
Trading articles with other webmasters will provide fresh content, along with more incoming links. Both help your online business, and those of your article partners, to reach their desired goals.
Finding the article partners
The first step to finding article trading partners is to contact your current link exchange partners. With a suspected decline in the value of link swaps, it’s a great time to upgrade those link relationships.
The existing links are probably on a non-themed links page. They probably have weak link anchor text. They are not getting the job done in the search engines or from visitor clicks. Guest articles strengthen every one of those weaknesses.
Another group of ideal article swappers are webmasters in businesses that relate to yours, but who are not direct competitors.
For example, if a site specializes in wedding gowns, then flower sites, limousine services, and men’s formal wear sites would make ideal article exchange sites. Columns on weddings in general, touching on the site’s main topic, would add themed content and incoming links. Both sites benefit as a result.
Checking with friends, who have unrelated sites or blogs can also provide guest article opportunities. Friends are very likely to swap articles with one another, gaining a link in the process.
Bloggers are constantly in search of blog posting ideas, and they are usually prolific writers. Many blogs have huge and loyal followings, providing a large and diverse fresh traffic influx to your site. Guest blogging on one another's blog is an ideal way to introduce yourself and your blog to new readers.
Many good article exchange sites already exist on the internet. Placement of your newly written article and use of another already posted article provides several positives.
Besides the fresh content, the authors are introduced to one another, opening up more possible exchanges in the future. After all, the swap is made with a writer of an already known quantity. That fact bodes well for future transactions.
Writing the article
It’s important the exchanged articles are relevant to both websites without being blatantly self promotional. The best traded content fits seamlessly with the information already appearing on the receiving site.
Returning to our example, travel site can contribute information on honeymoon trip planning to a wedding site. The returned article can recommend techniques of working with newlyweds as a target travel market. Both websites receive important fresh relevant content, with value for both their visitors and for the search engines.
Be sure to add a brief author’s biography, and a short unbiased description of the home website. Providing impartial information, along with the article, provides more credibility than marketing copy. There is plenty of opportunity, to convert the visitor traffic to customers, when they click on the link to your site.
Be sure to remember to add that link back to your website. As with all incoming links, it’s expected the link anchor text contains your most important keyword phrases.
There is another possible benefit available in this situation, however. Within the link text itself, there is an opportunity to aim directly, at the target market segment reading the article.
Alternative anchor text gives you another set of important keywords, to attract potential customers, and gain added search engine value. Remember, the goal of the article is primarily visitor traffic, with the search engines only a secondary concern.
Trading articles is a great way for two webmasters to help one another, and receive some very tangible benefits. It’s a true win-win situation for everyone.
Saturday, October 9, 2004
Friday, October 8, 2004
Trevor Cook blogging opinion published
Business and public relations blogs present a challenge to businesses.
Australian business and public relations blogger Trevor Cook of Corporate Engagement had a great article, on challenges presented by blogs to companies, printed in the AFK's Boss magazine.
Trevor's article appeared in the October edition.
As a service to everyone, whether bloggers or not, Trevor has made a pdf file of the article available for download.
It's a tremendous piece of insightful writing, as he tackles the business cultural changes necessary to make business blogging a successful reality.
I would strongly suggest that anyone interested in the world of business and public relations blogging to download the article.
Trevor Cook's opinions on the present and future of corporate blogging are always well worth a read.
Australian business and public relations blogger Trevor Cook of Corporate Engagement had a great article, on challenges presented by blogs to companies, printed in the AFK's Boss magazine.
Trevor's article appeared in the October edition.
As a service to everyone, whether bloggers or not, Trevor has made a pdf file of the article available for download.
It's a tremendous piece of insightful writing, as he tackles the business cultural changes necessary to make business blogging a successful reality.
I would strongly suggest that anyone interested in the world of business and public relations blogging to download the article.
Trevor Cook's opinions on the present and future of corporate blogging are always well worth a read.
Thursday, October 7, 2004
Blogs and public relations
As competition for available media coverage tightens, in a sea of press releases and attention stealing publicity stunts, it is harder than ever for a business to gain much needed publicity. A business person is often at a complete loss as to how to get media coverage of a worthwhile business story.
Getting someone to hear the message is half the battle. Having the members of the media consider it newsworthy is the other half. Somewhere, there must be another vehicle, that can gain the attention, of an already swamped news editor. That help, for the publicity seeking business person has arrived, in the form of the blog.
A growing number of journalists and news editors are reading blogs, on a daily basis, to find new and interesting story ideas. Often faster and more efficient than reading press releases, blog entries are likely to yield targeted short and feature article material.
When teamed with an RSS news feed, which employs the same technology as stock market and weather forecasts, a blog can provide an instant pipeline directly to interested media outlets.
Blogs provide a unique and personal way to communicate with current and prospective customers. By talking to people, in a conversational manner, a blog puts a human face on a company, that is difficult to duplicate in any other way.
The more casual, and comparatively unfiltered voice of the blogger creates the image of a business as being composed of real people like you. Instead of being a nameless and faceless corporation, the blog helps the people in the company, to come alive in their posts.
Should a disaster happen, either to the business or its customers, a business blog provides an immediate and personalized vehicle to discuss the issue with the public. Instead of the “spin”, usually associated with public relations, the blog can serve as an honest and concerned pipeline, directly to the public.
By addressing the issues openly and honestly, the business can regain and even increase the public’s trust. Concerned customers, and the general public, will view the blog as giving the straight answers. Such trust will only help enhance the business’s reputation, both in the short and long run.
The value of personalization
Perhaps the single most powerful aspect of blogs, in the area of public relations, is the personalization aspect. The writer is a real person, putting a human face on what might otherwise be perceived as a unknown and distant company. By developing trust among the various readership groups, the blog writer provides a personal link to the company.
If the goal of a public relations effort is to work in coordination with sales and marketing, a blog will establish trust with current and prospective customers and clients. It’s a well known truism that people will buy from their friends and people whose word they trust. The development of a blog component to the company website will go far in achieving those trust based goals.
In the past, public relations depended upon controlling the message, that was put forward from the organization. The unspoken goal was to manipulate public opinion. The prearranged message was centralized and carefully vetted for wording and nuances. The term “spin” was born to describe the technique.
Blogging as a public opinion medium gives up that tight control, and presents a message in a conversation with the reader. In that sense, the blog cultivates public opinion. With increasing transparency, inside and outside of organizations, the best approach is one of open discussion. A blog is the ideal delivery vehicle.
Many people have begun to mistrust the traditional canned public relations approach as lacking honesty. The openness of a blog changes that perception entirely. As the philosopher Marshall McLuhan stated, “Perception is reality”. In other words, what we perceive to be true, is real in our own thoughts.
A blog can enhance that perception of honesty by delivering the straight goods on an issue. With that open approach, lacking the traditional tightly controlled message, trust in the company is enhanced. In both the short and longer terms, that trust translates into more life long customers and clients.
Getting traditional media exposure through a blog
The traditional media has begun to visit blogs, and to subscribe to blog RSS feeds, via an RSS reader. As a blog is updated, the RSS feed, usually coded in XML and Atom, sends the post or part of the post to its subscribers.
Developing and adding an RSS feed is easily activated, and is readily available with almost every blogging tool. For sites preferring their own coding, there is widely available code, that can be modified as needed to suit your personal requirements.
Your blog’s readership can easily access your posts, as they are updated, in real time. Much of that regular blog audience are members of the traditional mainstream media, consisting of newspaper, television, and radio journalists and editors.
The news media are constantly on the lookout for potential news stories. By writing about your industry, reviewing products, providing company news, and commenting on various business and economics issues, your blog is a ready source of news stories.
By writing in a style that reflects your personality, along with your expertise in the industry, journalists will consider you to be an industry expert.
As someone considered knowledgeable in your business area, you will often be called upon for news interviews, in each of the mainstream media. Not only will you be interviewed about your own company, but about issues concerning your industry as a whole.
Be certain to always make yourself available. Reporters are pressed for time, due to tight deadline schedules. If you are unavailable, they will immediately call upon other people in your industry for comment. Provide your media contacts with a telephone number and fax number, where you can be reached at all times.
That media information should be readily available on your blog, as well as conveniently placed on the company website. Include a press kit, with your biography and other background materials to help the journalists do their job. Your assistance will be appreciated, and your expertise sought more often.
Blogging through a crisis
One of the most difficult times for any company, from a public relations standpoint, is during a company or industry crisis. During those often painful moments hours, the temptation for most traditional businesses is to shut down communications to the outside.
All of their statements and reports are carefully screened, and often require many people to sign off on them prior to release to the media and the public. Those controlled message days are a thing of the past.
By posting regular and open information on your company blog, you can address the crisis, fairly and honestly. Keeping the public completely aware of where your business stands, and what is the plan going forward, helps to improve confidence from your readership.
Blogs provide an unlimited number of postings per day. You can update what is happening, during the peak of the crisis, in real time.
Instead of hiding the problems, the trust your blog has developed over time, makes it the place for people to turn, for unfiltered information. Your job is to give the public honest answers, and not traditional spin. That openness about where the company stands, and it how it plans to resolve the problem, will be reported favorably in the media.
The general public will leave your blog feeling that they are provided with straight answers. Speaking directly those affected by the disaster will increase the reputation of your company, rather than detract from it. That confidence factor can only serve to enhance your company image, while raising your personal profile within the industry.
Conclusion
Businesses seeking a public relations vehicle, that provides numerous additional benefits, should consider adding a blog component to their website. The authentic and personalized blog voice is a natural fit for any public relations effort.
A rapidly growing number of journalists and editors are reading blogs on a daily basis. It’s becoming imperative that a company start a blog to keep up with that trend. Thanks to the addition of an RSS feed, a blog’s updated post can be on a journalist’s computer in seconds.
Old style tightly controlled public relations are becoming a thing of the past.
Get into the new public relations paradigm, by adding the personalized voice of a blog.
Getting someone to hear the message is half the battle. Having the members of the media consider it newsworthy is the other half. Somewhere, there must be another vehicle, that can gain the attention, of an already swamped news editor. That help, for the publicity seeking business person has arrived, in the form of the blog.
A growing number of journalists and news editors are reading blogs, on a daily basis, to find new and interesting story ideas. Often faster and more efficient than reading press releases, blog entries are likely to yield targeted short and feature article material.
When teamed with an RSS news feed, which employs the same technology as stock market and weather forecasts, a blog can provide an instant pipeline directly to interested media outlets.
Blogs provide a unique and personal way to communicate with current and prospective customers. By talking to people, in a conversational manner, a blog puts a human face on a company, that is difficult to duplicate in any other way.
The more casual, and comparatively unfiltered voice of the blogger creates the image of a business as being composed of real people like you. Instead of being a nameless and faceless corporation, the blog helps the people in the company, to come alive in their posts.
Should a disaster happen, either to the business or its customers, a business blog provides an immediate and personalized vehicle to discuss the issue with the public. Instead of the “spin”, usually associated with public relations, the blog can serve as an honest and concerned pipeline, directly to the public.
By addressing the issues openly and honestly, the business can regain and even increase the public’s trust. Concerned customers, and the general public, will view the blog as giving the straight answers. Such trust will only help enhance the business’s reputation, both in the short and long run.
The value of personalization
Perhaps the single most powerful aspect of blogs, in the area of public relations, is the personalization aspect. The writer is a real person, putting a human face on what might otherwise be perceived as a unknown and distant company. By developing trust among the various readership groups, the blog writer provides a personal link to the company.
If the goal of a public relations effort is to work in coordination with sales and marketing, a blog will establish trust with current and prospective customers and clients. It’s a well known truism that people will buy from their friends and people whose word they trust. The development of a blog component to the company website will go far in achieving those trust based goals.
In the past, public relations depended upon controlling the message, that was put forward from the organization. The unspoken goal was to manipulate public opinion. The prearranged message was centralized and carefully vetted for wording and nuances. The term “spin” was born to describe the technique.
Blogging as a public opinion medium gives up that tight control, and presents a message in a conversation with the reader. In that sense, the blog cultivates public opinion. With increasing transparency, inside and outside of organizations, the best approach is one of open discussion. A blog is the ideal delivery vehicle.
Many people have begun to mistrust the traditional canned public relations approach as lacking honesty. The openness of a blog changes that perception entirely. As the philosopher Marshall McLuhan stated, “Perception is reality”. In other words, what we perceive to be true, is real in our own thoughts.
A blog can enhance that perception of honesty by delivering the straight goods on an issue. With that open approach, lacking the traditional tightly controlled message, trust in the company is enhanced. In both the short and longer terms, that trust translates into more life long customers and clients.
Getting traditional media exposure through a blog
The traditional media has begun to visit blogs, and to subscribe to blog RSS feeds, via an RSS reader. As a blog is updated, the RSS feed, usually coded in XML and Atom, sends the post or part of the post to its subscribers.
Developing and adding an RSS feed is easily activated, and is readily available with almost every blogging tool. For sites preferring their own coding, there is widely available code, that can be modified as needed to suit your personal requirements.
Your blog’s readership can easily access your posts, as they are updated, in real time. Much of that regular blog audience are members of the traditional mainstream media, consisting of newspaper, television, and radio journalists and editors.
The news media are constantly on the lookout for potential news stories. By writing about your industry, reviewing products, providing company news, and commenting on various business and economics issues, your blog is a ready source of news stories.
By writing in a style that reflects your personality, along with your expertise in the industry, journalists will consider you to be an industry expert.
As someone considered knowledgeable in your business area, you will often be called upon for news interviews, in each of the mainstream media. Not only will you be interviewed about your own company, but about issues concerning your industry as a whole.
Be certain to always make yourself available. Reporters are pressed for time, due to tight deadline schedules. If you are unavailable, they will immediately call upon other people in your industry for comment. Provide your media contacts with a telephone number and fax number, where you can be reached at all times.
That media information should be readily available on your blog, as well as conveniently placed on the company website. Include a press kit, with your biography and other background materials to help the journalists do their job. Your assistance will be appreciated, and your expertise sought more often.
Blogging through a crisis
One of the most difficult times for any company, from a public relations standpoint, is during a company or industry crisis. During those often painful moments hours, the temptation for most traditional businesses is to shut down communications to the outside.
All of their statements and reports are carefully screened, and often require many people to sign off on them prior to release to the media and the public. Those controlled message days are a thing of the past.
By posting regular and open information on your company blog, you can address the crisis, fairly and honestly. Keeping the public completely aware of where your business stands, and what is the plan going forward, helps to improve confidence from your readership.
Blogs provide an unlimited number of postings per day. You can update what is happening, during the peak of the crisis, in real time.
Instead of hiding the problems, the trust your blog has developed over time, makes it the place for people to turn, for unfiltered information. Your job is to give the public honest answers, and not traditional spin. That openness about where the company stands, and it how it plans to resolve the problem, will be reported favorably in the media.
The general public will leave your blog feeling that they are provided with straight answers. Speaking directly those affected by the disaster will increase the reputation of your company, rather than detract from it. That confidence factor can only serve to enhance your company image, while raising your personal profile within the industry.
Conclusion
Businesses seeking a public relations vehicle, that provides numerous additional benefits, should consider adding a blog component to their website. The authentic and personalized blog voice is a natural fit for any public relations effort.
A rapidly growing number of journalists and editors are reading blogs on a daily basis. It’s becoming imperative that a company start a blog to keep up with that trend. Thanks to the addition of an RSS feed, a blog’s updated post can be on a journalist’s computer in seconds.
Old style tightly controlled public relations are becoming a thing of the past.
Get into the new public relations paradigm, by adding the personalized voice of a blog.
Wednesday, October 6, 2004
Will blogs put websites out of business?
Will the rising tide of blogs swamp the traditional websites in the vastness of the internet sea?
That is question asked by more than one blogger and by many static website owners as well.
The answer to that is yes and no, at the same time.
Hey, Wayne, you sure know how to hedge your bets, I'll give you that!
Well, the answer is really both, and neither.
Just to sit on the fence a bit more, right?
A blog is a website. A blog can also be a component of a traditional website, where the blog is FTP'd to the site.
A blog can distribute its information on updates through an RSS feed, or through e-mail updates. A conventional website can do exactly the same thing.
A blog can complement a website, and add much needed keyword rich content to the site. By means of regular posts, mainly surrounding only a few topics, a blog will become powerfully themed for certain keywords.
Themes are the most important topic, and area of interest for a website. Writing about the various aspects of baseball themes a blog for that sport as a topic area.
By strenghening the themes of a blog, that is part of a website, that theme power is transferred to the main site itself.
In effect, the blog has taken over the search engine rankings for that theme. At the same time, the main website ranks even higher itself, for those same themed search terms.
In effect, the blog has taken over for the website. Conversely, the website has gained and taken over the themes from the blog.
The blog will not put the website out of business. The blog can, however, go very far towards keeping a website and its owner in business.
The additional themed link popularity, from other blogs and websites discussing the same topic, will propel the blog almost to the top of the search rankings.
The additional fresh keyword laden content will complete the rise, to the very pinnacle of the search engine results, for those search terms.
Blogs aren't going to take over and put traditional websites out of business any time soon.
Blogs will, however, give any website a much needed jolt of themed link and fresh content power.
A blog and a traditional website can become a powerful team.
They don't need to work against one another.
Co-operation beats competition much of the time.
That is question asked by more than one blogger and by many static website owners as well.
The answer to that is yes and no, at the same time.
Hey, Wayne, you sure know how to hedge your bets, I'll give you that!
Well, the answer is really both, and neither.
Just to sit on the fence a bit more, right?
A blog is a website. A blog can also be a component of a traditional website, where the blog is FTP'd to the site.
A blog can distribute its information on updates through an RSS feed, or through e-mail updates. A conventional website can do exactly the same thing.
A blog can complement a website, and add much needed keyword rich content to the site. By means of regular posts, mainly surrounding only a few topics, a blog will become powerfully themed for certain keywords.
Themes are the most important topic, and area of interest for a website. Writing about the various aspects of baseball themes a blog for that sport as a topic area.
By strenghening the themes of a blog, that is part of a website, that theme power is transferred to the main site itself.
In effect, the blog has taken over the search engine rankings for that theme. At the same time, the main website ranks even higher itself, for those same themed search terms.
In effect, the blog has taken over for the website. Conversely, the website has gained and taken over the themes from the blog.
The blog will not put the website out of business. The blog can, however, go very far towards keeping a website and its owner in business.
The additional themed link popularity, from other blogs and websites discussing the same topic, will propel the blog almost to the top of the search rankings.
The additional fresh keyword laden content will complete the rise, to the very pinnacle of the search engine results, for those search terms.
Blogs aren't going to take over and put traditional websites out of business any time soon.
Blogs will, however, give any website a much needed jolt of themed link and fresh content power.
A blog and a traditional website can become a powerful team.
They don't need to work against one another.
Co-operation beats competition much of the time.
Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Thoughts on search engine optimization saturation
Search engine optimization (SEO) saturation.
You hear about it from time to time.
The case is usually presented in the following manner, with a few variations.
Since all websites are using the standard and generally accepted search engine optimization techniques, they no longer have any value. Over time, any site using SEO methods will slip farther and farther behind other optimized sites. In particular, honest sites won't be able to compete with sites using search engine spam tactics, despite their being outlawed by the search engines.
Wow! That was certainly a mouthful.
It was sure a lot longer paragraph than I usually write. As you know, I prefer shorter paragraphs, as they are much easier to read on the internet.
But I digress. Not that I mind. I like going off on tangents once in awhile.
Now back to overbaked and allegedly worthless SEO efforts.
First of all, there are literally billions of sites on the internet. About four billion of them are blogs. By the way, those four million blogs are better optimized than 98% of the traditional websites.
I'll bet no one told you that you had that kind of advantage as a blogger.
Well, I have; and tell you that great news all the time.
And yes, I do like to repeat glad tidings of comfort and joy, regardless of the season to be jolly.
Of the remaining billions of web pages floating around the virtual world of the internet, only a comparative handful have even heard of SEO. Even fewer have thought of applying it to their sites.
I wouldn't worry about too much competition for top spots in all but a few highly competitive keyword phrases.
In fact, it's those few highly competitive industries that have many SEO experts themselves believing every site is SEO'd to the hilt. Most industries and theire search terms are relatively untouched by any search engine optimization efforts at all.
As for spammy frowned upon practices, that violate the various search engines' webmaster guidelines, they are really few and far between. Most of them wind up with penalties and banning from the search engines sooner or later.
In the meantime, a spam laden site will gain few paying customers, despite its trickery to gain visitors. Unlike your blog, which actually provides interesting and useful information to your readers, those spam sites provide little if anything.
They are the website version of an appeal,to help some starving Nigerian dictator, move millions of non-existent dollars to a Swiss bank account. They are more mirage than reality.
If you have a blog, you are already well optimized.
Your abundant fresh content, written on your blog's regular themes and topics, scores high search engine rankings all by themselves.
The many incoming links to your blog give you the link popularity so highly valued in the search engines. Google in particular loves incoming links.
What is really funny about all of these doom and gloom writers, who say no one can rank highly for any keywords, is none of them suggest a blog.
Well, you have one.
You already have a leg up in the search engine optimzation game.
SEO is alive and well.
It's even more lively with a blog!
You hear about it from time to time.
The case is usually presented in the following manner, with a few variations.
Since all websites are using the standard and generally accepted search engine optimization techniques, they no longer have any value. Over time, any site using SEO methods will slip farther and farther behind other optimized sites. In particular, honest sites won't be able to compete with sites using search engine spam tactics, despite their being outlawed by the search engines.
Wow! That was certainly a mouthful.
It was sure a lot longer paragraph than I usually write. As you know, I prefer shorter paragraphs, as they are much easier to read on the internet.
But I digress. Not that I mind. I like going off on tangents once in awhile.
Now back to overbaked and allegedly worthless SEO efforts.
First of all, there are literally billions of sites on the internet. About four billion of them are blogs. By the way, those four million blogs are better optimized than 98% of the traditional websites.
I'll bet no one told you that you had that kind of advantage as a blogger.
Well, I have; and tell you that great news all the time.
And yes, I do like to repeat glad tidings of comfort and joy, regardless of the season to be jolly.
Of the remaining billions of web pages floating around the virtual world of the internet, only a comparative handful have even heard of SEO. Even fewer have thought of applying it to their sites.
I wouldn't worry about too much competition for top spots in all but a few highly competitive keyword phrases.
In fact, it's those few highly competitive industries that have many SEO experts themselves believing every site is SEO'd to the hilt. Most industries and theire search terms are relatively untouched by any search engine optimization efforts at all.
As for spammy frowned upon practices, that violate the various search engines' webmaster guidelines, they are really few and far between. Most of them wind up with penalties and banning from the search engines sooner or later.
In the meantime, a spam laden site will gain few paying customers, despite its trickery to gain visitors. Unlike your blog, which actually provides interesting and useful information to your readers, those spam sites provide little if anything.
They are the website version of an appeal,to help some starving Nigerian dictator, move millions of non-existent dollars to a Swiss bank account. They are more mirage than reality.
If you have a blog, you are already well optimized.
Your abundant fresh content, written on your blog's regular themes and topics, scores high search engine rankings all by themselves.
The many incoming links to your blog give you the link popularity so highly valued in the search engines. Google in particular loves incoming links.
What is really funny about all of these doom and gloom writers, who say no one can rank highly for any keywords, is none of them suggest a blog.
Well, you have one.
You already have a leg up in the search engine optimzation game.
SEO is alive and well.
It's even more lively with a blog!
Monday, October 4, 2004
Carnival of the Capitalists takes the Drakeview
As we all move toward the statistical time of year, the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists, provides us with thoughts and ideas, as well some statistics from the Carnival's startup year.
This week's posts have a decidedly reflective air, as we engage the power of John D.'s great marketing, technology, and business blog, known as Drakeview.
When John is not providing technology ideas, he is writing about business and marketing As a supporter and believer in business success, I like that idea. A lot.
This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists features some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today.
Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, legal issues, regulation, the media, internet commerce, the national and global economies.
As you would expect from Drakeview there are business, marketing, and economics postings everywhere.
It's always great to read and discover the many high quality blogs out there in the blogosphere.
We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones.
As I am always privileged to do, I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.
My entry post this week is entitled "Cheap hits: You get what you pay for" where I discuss the idea of whether visitors resulting from gratuitous mentions of popular search terms has any real value.
If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:
cotcmail -at- gmail -dot- com
If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.
Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.The extra visitors can't sent to your blog won't hurt either!
The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. The readership is enlarging, and finding entirely new visitors, every single week.
The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.
Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.
Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists moves over to the great business blog that started it all, at Rob's Business Pundit.
In the meantime, click that mouse over to this week's Drakeview hosted Carnival of the Capitalists.
If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, the year's statistics for Carnival of the Capitalists, certainly will.
This week's posts have a decidedly reflective air, as we engage the power of John D.'s great marketing, technology, and business blog, known as Drakeview.
When John is not providing technology ideas, he is writing about business and marketing As a supporter and believer in business success, I like that idea. A lot.
This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists features some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today.
Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, legal issues, regulation, the media, internet commerce, the national and global economies.
As you would expect from Drakeview there are business, marketing, and economics postings everywhere.
It's always great to read and discover the many high quality blogs out there in the blogosphere.
We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones.
As I am always privileged to do, I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.
My entry post this week is entitled "Cheap hits: You get what you pay for" where I discuss the idea of whether visitors resulting from gratuitous mentions of popular search terms has any real value.
If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:
cotcmail -at- gmail -dot- com
If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.
Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.The extra visitors can't sent to your blog won't hurt either!
The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. The readership is enlarging, and finding entirely new visitors, every single week.
The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.
Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.
Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists moves over to the great business blog that started it all, at Rob's Business Pundit.
In the meantime, click that mouse over to this week's Drakeview hosted Carnival of the Capitalists.
If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, the year's statistics for Carnival of the Capitalists, certainly will.
Activist blogs: Blogging for the cause
Activist blogs.
You know them when you see them.
While the first thought might run to the various political blogs, I am referring more to the blogs that are issue related.
For example, an activist blogger might write about the environment, abortion, legalizing drugs, or missing children, just to name a few.
Activist blogs usually are single issue, and for good reason. The blogger wishes to concentrate the entire blog's efforts toward a single goal.
Along with those various hot button issues, there will be controversy and negative feedback, as part of the overall package.
My friend Trudy Shuett of WOLves, when she's not writing about the value of business blogs and writers' blogs, is also an activist blogger.
Trudy provides a few handy suggestions, for those of you who are working toward a worthy cause. She knows from experience the highs, and unfortunate lows, that go along with activist blogging.
A blog certainly provides some powerful techniques for aiding your chosen cause, and working toward those important goals.
The blog will enable your voice to be heard in a crowd of other worthwhile organizations. The search engine visibility alone, makes the exercise a powerful one indeed.
Daily posts on your cause will keep readers returning for more information, either through bookmark, link, or site feed. Other people working to achieve the same societal changes will also link to your blog.
The mainstream media is constantly searching for spokespeople on various issues. A blogger is an ideal person to fill that role. With daily postings, and the necessary research to fill them, the blogger is very well informed on the topic.
Whether you are tying to change the world, or just your own little corner, activist blogs might provide the ideal outlet for your ambitions.
Start your activist blog today.
You know them when you see them.
While the first thought might run to the various political blogs, I am referring more to the blogs that are issue related.
For example, an activist blogger might write about the environment, abortion, legalizing drugs, or missing children, just to name a few.
Activist blogs usually are single issue, and for good reason. The blogger wishes to concentrate the entire blog's efforts toward a single goal.
Along with those various hot button issues, there will be controversy and negative feedback, as part of the overall package.
My friend Trudy Shuett of WOLves, when she's not writing about the value of business blogs and writers' blogs, is also an activist blogger.
Trudy provides a few handy suggestions, for those of you who are working toward a worthy cause. She knows from experience the highs, and unfortunate lows, that go along with activist blogging.
A blog certainly provides some powerful techniques for aiding your chosen cause, and working toward those important goals.
The blog will enable your voice to be heard in a crowd of other worthwhile organizations. The search engine visibility alone, makes the exercise a powerful one indeed.
Daily posts on your cause will keep readers returning for more information, either through bookmark, link, or site feed. Other people working to achieve the same societal changes will also link to your blog.
The mainstream media is constantly searching for spokespeople on various issues. A blogger is an ideal person to fill that role. With daily postings, and the necessary research to fill them, the blogger is very well informed on the topic.
Whether you are tying to change the world, or just your own little corner, activist blogs might provide the ideal outlet for your ambitions.
Start your activist blog today.
Sunday, October 3, 2004
And even more blogging accolades
Bloggers are reaching the big time.
At least many of them are finding notice, in some of the biggest name publications, in the offline dead tree world.
Baseball blogger, and friend of Blog Business World, Aaron Gleeman of Aaron's Baseball Blog, received notice from the well known and very prestigious publication known as Sports Illustrated.
They don't get much more household names than that, in the magazine world.
Aaron found himself listed in the Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary issue, no less.
He was joined by fellow baseball blogger Steve Goldman's A Pinstriped Bible. That highly regarded blog concentrates on the New York Yankees.
Long time readers of Aaron's Baseball Blog recognize his fondness, if that is strong enough, his obsession for the Minnesota Twins.
Sports Illustrated also recognized group baseball blog, Baseball Primer and a Boston Red Sox discussion blog, known as Sons of Sam Horn.
Sports blogs are among the leaders in moving into the mainstream.
Whether you have an interest in sports blogs in general, or baseball blogs in particular, they have hit a home run with their successes.
Way to go, Aaron.
Oh, and I hope you win a big pot at Texas Hold 'Em!
At least many of them are finding notice, in some of the biggest name publications, in the offline dead tree world.
Baseball blogger, and friend of Blog Business World, Aaron Gleeman of Aaron's Baseball Blog, received notice from the well known and very prestigious publication known as Sports Illustrated.
They don't get much more household names than that, in the magazine world.
Aaron found himself listed in the Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary issue, no less.
He was joined by fellow baseball blogger Steve Goldman's A Pinstriped Bible. That highly regarded blog concentrates on the New York Yankees.
Long time readers of Aaron's Baseball Blog recognize his fondness, if that is strong enough, his obsession for the Minnesota Twins.
Sports Illustrated also recognized group baseball blog, Baseball Primer and a Boston Red Sox discussion blog, known as Sons of Sam Horn.
Sports blogs are among the leaders in moving into the mainstream.
Whether you have an interest in sports blogs in general, or baseball blogs in particular, they have hit a home run with their successes.
Way to go, Aaron.
Oh, and I hope you win a big pot at Texas Hold 'Em!
Saturday, October 2, 2004
More blogging accolades
My good friend Yvonne DiVita of Lip-Sticking just keeps piling up the award nominations.
As I reported earlier, business blogger extrordinaire Yvonne DiVita was honoured with a nomination, by the Rochester (NY) Women's Network (RWN), for the "Up And Coming Business Woman Of The Year" Award.
Now she has added an even more prestigious nomination to her already impressive resume.
On September 23, Advanta (America's Business Awards) announced the finalists
in its "Women helping Women" contest.
Yvonne's company, called Windsor Media Enterprises, LLC, has been declared a finalist.
She will be traveling to New York City on October 22, for the award ceremony, where the winners will receive a Stevie Award.
Not only is Yvonne looking at even more awards, but she is also appearing on radio.
Yvonne stated:
was invited (as a result of the note I sent out regarding the
Stevie Awards) by Entrepreneur Radio Online, to be on the Lee Mirabel Show,
which focuses on business issues. They asked what I'd like to talk about and
I said, blogging. So, that's what we did.
Listen to Yvonne DiVita on Entrepreneur Radio.
Yvonne gave a fine presentation on the power of blogs.
Her interview is well worth a listen.
As I reported earlier, business blogger extrordinaire Yvonne DiVita was honoured with a nomination, by the Rochester (NY) Women's Network (RWN), for the "Up And Coming Business Woman Of The Year" Award.
Now she has added an even more prestigious nomination to her already impressive resume.
On September 23, Advanta (America's Business Awards) announced the finalists
in its "Women helping Women" contest.
Yvonne's company, called Windsor Media Enterprises, LLC, has been declared a finalist.
She will be traveling to New York City on October 22, for the award ceremony, where the winners will receive a Stevie Award.
Not only is Yvonne looking at even more awards, but she is also appearing on radio.
Yvonne stated:
was invited (as a result of the note I sent out regarding the
Stevie Awards) by Entrepreneur Radio Online, to be on the Lee Mirabel Show,
which focuses on business issues. They asked what I'd like to talk about and
I said, blogging. So, that's what we did.
Listen to Yvonne DiVita on Entrepreneur Radio.
Yvonne gave a fine presentation on the power of blogs.
Her interview is well worth a listen.
Friday, October 1, 2004
Business blogs: A recommendation
Business blogs.
I talk about them on this blog all of the time.
I post on various message boards about the advantages of blogs for business and for non-profit organizations.
I also write articles about business blogs, along with other search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing features, at SEO Chat.
That is only part of the story.
As many of my long time readers know, I am a freelance writer. Writing articles is something I do a great amount, and I enjoy it.
Freelance writing is an opportunity to unite a hobby, a passion, and an income all into one neat little package. It really should have ribbon and a nice bow. Perhaps some of my readers might supply them for me.
Another one of my professions, which I discuss but rarely talk about except in passing, is search engine optimzation and search engine marketing.
In effect, I help people's websites gain higher rankings on the search engines. That improved search placement for their most important keywords provides a business site with much better visibility.
You can't sell much online if no one can find your website.
I also assist the business with online marketing, to convert the resulting visitor traffic, into paying customers. Traffic numbers are great, but a few more dollars from sales is even better.
One of the techniques I recommend to all of my search engine optimization and marketing clients is to add a blog to their site.
A business blog is simply the fastest way to gain that important visibility.
Websites that feature a blog component, rise much more quickly in the search engines, like Google, Yahoo, and MSN Search, than they did before. In fact, sites will a business blog, as part of the content, will very often rank higher than a large well financed site.
For those lacking the funds, to run with the big dogs, a business blog is a great equalizer.
The high number of links, which are a hallmark of blogs, is very important to the search engine placement calculations. Blogs also provide another much sought after advantage for high search engine placements, in the form of regular fresh content.
The search engine's computerized formula, to decide what site will be on which page, is called an algorithm. There is nothing magical about it, as it's all mathematics.
The program in the algorithm is written to give high value to incoming links and to fresh keyword rich content. As we all know, blogs provide both of those features, as major parts of what makes them blogs.
I think the writer of the search engine calculation algorithm was a blogger. The formula certainly looks like it was written with blogs in mind. Oops, I think we might have let one of their closely guarded secrets out of the bag.
Blogs work wonders in the search engines.
Because of that powerful advantage, I recommend blogs, freely and openly, to all of me search engine optimization and internet marketing clients.
Now, I'm suggesting...no, I'm strongly advising, that that your business add a blog component too.
Get on the leading edge of internet marketing, public relations, and search engine optimization.
Get a blog.
I talk about them on this blog all of the time.
I post on various message boards about the advantages of blogs for business and for non-profit organizations.
I also write articles about business blogs, along with other search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing features, at SEO Chat.
That is only part of the story.
As many of my long time readers know, I am a freelance writer. Writing articles is something I do a great amount, and I enjoy it.
Freelance writing is an opportunity to unite a hobby, a passion, and an income all into one neat little package. It really should have ribbon and a nice bow. Perhaps some of my readers might supply them for me.
Another one of my professions, which I discuss but rarely talk about except in passing, is search engine optimzation and search engine marketing.
In effect, I help people's websites gain higher rankings on the search engines. That improved search placement for their most important keywords provides a business site with much better visibility.
You can't sell much online if no one can find your website.
I also assist the business with online marketing, to convert the resulting visitor traffic, into paying customers. Traffic numbers are great, but a few more dollars from sales is even better.
One of the techniques I recommend to all of my search engine optimization and marketing clients is to add a blog to their site.
A business blog is simply the fastest way to gain that important visibility.
Websites that feature a blog component, rise much more quickly in the search engines, like Google, Yahoo, and MSN Search, than they did before. In fact, sites will a business blog, as part of the content, will very often rank higher than a large well financed site.
For those lacking the funds, to run with the big dogs, a business blog is a great equalizer.
The high number of links, which are a hallmark of blogs, is very important to the search engine placement calculations. Blogs also provide another much sought after advantage for high search engine placements, in the form of regular fresh content.
The search engine's computerized formula, to decide what site will be on which page, is called an algorithm. There is nothing magical about it, as it's all mathematics.
The program in the algorithm is written to give high value to incoming links and to fresh keyword rich content. As we all know, blogs provide both of those features, as major parts of what makes them blogs.
I think the writer of the search engine calculation algorithm was a blogger. The formula certainly looks like it was written with blogs in mind. Oops, I think we might have let one of their closely guarded secrets out of the bag.
Blogs work wonders in the search engines.
Because of that powerful advantage, I recommend blogs, freely and openly, to all of me search engine optimization and internet marketing clients.
Now, I'm suggesting...no, I'm strongly advising, that that your business add a blog component too.
Get on the leading edge of internet marketing, public relations, and search engine optimization.
Get a blog.
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