Supplemental Multimedia and Transcripts

It is no longer enough to write compelling blog posts to achieve the best SEO practices. As with images, supplemental multimedia such as audio files requires you to create text transcripts to attract search engine attention. Supplemental descriptions of video content, albeit not word for word, also should comprise your 2015 blog post SEO strategy. Moreover, the same relevance placed on Meta tags and title descriptions apply to supplemental multimedia

Length and Quality Matter

The recent Panda and Penguin updates demonstrate that now more than ever, Google rewards bloggers that create original quality content. One of the parameters that have changed for Google’s search engine algorithm involves the length of blog posts. Google has typically rewarded shorter blog posts that got to the point. However, you now need to write longer posts that present multiple points

Put the Welcome Mat Out

Anyone who creates a blog understands that at times, coming up with content is more painful than a root canal. Sometimes, the well upstairs runs dry and you need an alternative source for content. Recruiting guest bloggers should be at the top of your blog tips for 2015 list. Not only do you present a fresh perspective for your website visitors, you also develop a relationship that may lead to you guest blogging on other blogs. Guest blogging helps you increase exposure for your small business.

Revisit Old Topics

By old, we refer to topics that you touched on more than six months ago. By revisit, we mean writing a post on the same topic, but with a different approach. For example, you can discuss the importance of SEO, but this time, discuss why it’s important for video marketing. Some topics require you to revisit more frequently, as technology advances and changes in SEO require you to update old content.

Recruit a Pro

Let’s face it. Not every small business owner has the skills to write blog posts. Writing requires both technical and descriptive expertise. If you don’t possess the skills or even have the time to write posts, recruit a member from your team to present content that promotes your small business. You can also consider hiring a professional freelance blogger who writes for a living. The key is to get your content marketing program right, regardless of who produces the content.

Blog Tips for 2015 include a few time-tested writing pointers that should never fade from importance. You need to write timeless content that has a clear point. Short sentences that pack information have much more effect on readers than long sentences replete with fluff. Make sure the information that you present has relevance to your small business website and provides answers to difficult customer questions and problems. Google rewards content that informs.

There’s the sound of the railroad horn in the distance. The laughter of a girl. Cherry Garcia FroYo. And there is blogging.

Call it a hobby. Call it a career. Call it a passion.  Here are some of the reasons why I am thankful for freelance blogging.

– Blogging Reignited My Passion to Write. Early this century my journalism degree was gathering dust. Caught up in a world where I was trying to establish a “career” for myself, I found little reason to write. But blogging opened up a door to a world of writing…without an editor. Freedom! My grammar might not be perfect, and spelling errors, well, yeah, they happen. But removing the hurdle of having someone change what I want to say…a huge score!

– Blogging Builds Relationships. They may not be part of my inner circle, but I have formed some valuable and fulfilling relationships thanks to blogging. I hear from people all around the world.  Some are insightful, others are opinionated, but all are engaged. This feeling of connectedness is important to me in a somewhat disconnected world. 

– Blogging Is a FREE Hobby. With no equipment necessary, no entry fees, and no expensive “collectibles,” blogging is an economical hobby, one that fills time in a positive way — without draining your bank account. The coolest part is that blogs are like “manly” diaries, with your thoughts archived for life.  For virtually no cost, I can look back on this post in 20 years and laugh or cry about it. That’s priceless!

– Blogging Puts Me on the Path to Self-Employment. It won’t happen overnight, and it might never come to fruition, but blogging puts everyone on the path to potential self-employment. The greatest part is that you can transition as slowly (or as quickly) as you like. Whether or not this is a goal for you, it at least lets you cast a hook into the self-employment pond. Hey, you gotta be in it to win it, right?

– Blogging Lets Me Tap Into My Creativity. I live for creative vision; it keeps me young, happy, and feeling alive. From layout to imagery to making money, a good blogger must be a quick thinker – someone who is willing to let their creative juices slop all over the floor. Somebody get me a mop!

– Blogging is Therapeutic. And it costs less than therapy. As a blogger, you get to air your grievances publicly and have the world comment. This dialogue can help you blow off some serious steam. And for the days when blogging isn’t enough, I always have the heavy bag to hit in my basement.

I am grateful for so many things, and this year, blogging makes the list. If you’re reading this, I’m grateful to you too.

Except that’s not true. At least, that’s what I tell myself. 

As the father of a newborn, I realize more than ever how important it is to squeeze precious seconds out of every minute that I get.  Here are a few places you might find me honing my blogging skills.

RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS
Before you lecture me on distracted driving, read on! Every time I am idle in the car, I use the opportunity to focus on my breath, inhaling deeply and exhaling smoothly. My Zen hero Thich Nhat Hanh taught me that the best way to clear my mind, focus on the present, and relax myself to be receptive to creative ideas, is to simply breathe. A traffic stop is the perfect place to do this. In fact, some of my best blog ideas have come using this technique.

WAITING ROOMS
When you go to see a doctor or dentist, there’s a good chance you’ll be waiting. Rather than reading a three-month old sports magazine you could care less about, take out your smartphone or pad and start on your next blog post.

STANDING ON LINE
The person in front of you is pulling out their coupon pouch, so you know it’s going to be awhile! Might as well get your thumbs cracking and text message yourself a few notes for future blog entries.

HOLDING
Whether it’s your buddy picking up the other line or some hideous customer service rep subjecting you to Kenny G., it’s rare to have a phone conversation these days without getting put on hold. Use the time to pull up your latest Web stats, research SEO or unsubscribe from annoying spam. Oh, and if you’re put on hold for more than 90 seconds – hang up.

WATCHING ADS
If you are still resisting DVR and watching live TV, you are wasting your time! After you grab a snack and empty your bladder, start blogging before your show comes back. By the time you add up all of the ads, you could write a post during a 30-minute sitcom.

SLEEPING
I don’t view sleep as a “time suck,” but hitting the snooze button is! Get your butt out of bed and face the day head on!

GOSSIP
Engaging in gossip is a no-no. Not only does it waste your time, but you are aiding and abetting the spread of information that has the potential to hurt other people. Don’t engage, use the time to blog instead.

So if you’re sitting there waiting for your PC to boot up, you are wasting time! Fill the gaps with blogging tasks and you will never lose another second!

Building trust doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s an important ingredient to cook up a winning product. Here are few tactics to employ in order to build trust on your blog, and in turn, become a better blogger.

– BE YOURSELF. Successful blogging requires that you insert yourself into the written world. Not every blogging situation calls for it, but if you are looking to build an audience and earn readers’ trust, you need to give them (at the very least) a glimpse into who you are. We trust people we know, and if readers don’t know you, how can they trust you?

– STICK WITH IT. The longer you blog, the better your odds of earning trust. It shows people that you are in it for the “long haul.” In a world where many blogs fizzle and disappear after a few weeks, readers will not vest themselves until you prove that you will not “abandon” your blog. Also, the longer you keep you blog running, the more you prove your commitment (not to mention, search engine love). Quality beats quantity, but standing the test of time will earn you some clout.

– BE ACTIVE AND CONSISTENT. We trust people we can depend on. Get readers to depend on you, not only with the content you provide, but when you post it.

– BE AN AUTHORITY. Talk to folks within your blog’s niche to boost your “street cred.” Like it or not, people are judged by the company they keep. If you are blogging about cat whiskers, and are connected to the President of the local Cat Whiskers club, you will instantly garner respect from your readers. At the very least, you’ll prove you have some knowledge of what you are writing about.

– TALK YOURSELF UP. There’s a fine line between highlighting your success and being a braggart, but with a little bit of grace, you can achieve the former. Don’t be afraid to put your impressive blog stats out there for the world to see. If there are things going on behind the scenes that could increase your trust quotient, use ‘em!

– BREAK NEWS. Showing readers that you are “on top” of things can earn you trust. Getting to a story first (and reporting well) will help you gain the respect of readers and fellow bloggers. If you miss a story or make a mistake, acknowledge it! (See #1)

Bloggers need to build trust in order to be successful. What are you doing to build that bridge?

CREATIVITY
One of the biggest challenges a busy freelance blogger faces is conceptualizing article topics. Bloggers are a dime a dozen.  But bloggers who can produce compelling content are a much rarer breed. Interesting articles generally begin with a thought-provoking topic. Hiring a blogger who can come up with ideas on their own, as well as enhance the topics I have provided, is a tremendous asset and a big time-saver for me!

A RE-WRITER
You’ve undoubtedly heard some variation of the expression, “every good idea has been taken.”  That being said, almost everything has been written about in some form or other. The best bloggers can take pre-existing content and quickly put their own spin on it, turning it into 100% original content. From adapting press releases to covering a topic that has been explored a million times, good bloggers can customize on the fly and deliver a written product that cuts through the noise.

COMMUNICATION
Allow me to generalize. Writers can be a reclusive bunch.  I mean no disrespect, but in my experience, many great writers are not great communicators. When hiring a freelance blogger I look for two types of communication.

A) The majority of the blogs I own and write for require a conversational tone.  That mandates that the blogger understands who the audience is and can “speak” to them in a language that they understand and can relate to.  This takes a good writer AND a good communicator.  The last thing you want is a blogger who misunderstands the audience, or worse yet, is perceived as talking down to readers.

B) For most people, freelance blogging is a hobby or a way to generate supplemental income. Because of this, many bloggers have a hectic schedule.  I never expect a blogger to drop what they are doing to make time for me, however, it is important to hire a blogger who communicates efficiently and regularly; someone who is willing to ask questions — the right questions.

The bloggers I tend to hire back for repeat assignments also tend to be outwardly optimistic, critical thinkers, and have a proven track record (though it doesn’t have to be within the blogging world).

If the above sounds like you, I look forward to possibly working with you one day!  Connect with me on LinkedIn.

I’m not sure how enrollment for these classes looks, but based on the sheer volume of offerings, I’m going to venture to guess that they do quite well. With that being said, I wanted to offer some tips for any readers who are considering taking a blog course.

The first thing you’re going to want to do is vet the instructor. Since you’re talking about digital media, their work experience should only be a few clicks away. Take to the Internet and do your own research on how popular their blogs are and how they maintain their social media profiles.

I’ve come across quite a few blogging instructors who do not have a proven track record in the blogosphere, or worse yet, teachers who have no blog at all.  If they have set up a blog as a prerequisite to teach the class, it will be obvious.  Do your homework.

That being said, there are great baseball managers who never played in the major leagues.  And I’m sure there are great blogging instructors who never made it to the blogging big time. However, personally, when I want to learn something from someone, I want to see that they have been where I want to go.

Since many of these courses have been taught before, I would ask the school to see success stories from previous students. In essence, you’re asking the academic institution to provide contact information for students who will act as a reference for the course and or the instructor.

As a possible student, part of your research when choosing a course/school should include checking out former student blogs to see what they’re doing with their blogging skills out in the real world.

One of the major pluses of organized education is post-course support.  Be sure to ask the school what kind of post-curriculum support is offered. Will you be able to contact the instructor after the course ends? Will your blog or digital property be listed on the school’s website?  Distributed in an e-newsletter?

But the biggest…most important…absolutely necessary thing to do before you take a blog course is…

KNOW YOUR GOAL.

It sounds overly-simplistic, but far too many people hide in the corridors of academia because they don’t know what else to do.  Before paying one cent for an education or investing your valuable time, have a solid idea of what you want to get out of the course – and be sure the course will serve as a means to that end.

Questions?  Concerns?  Hit me up in the comments section below.