Business Blogging - How to Build A Better Blog

Business Bloggers Twitter List in Development

2009-11-04T15:02:50-08:00

If you're on Twitter, then you probably know that the introduction of lists is keeping everyone quite busy creating their ultimate lists of tweeple in every category under the sun. I'm no exception. (See my post on Biz Tips Blog about Twitter lists.)

I've started a list of business bloggers and I need your help.

First, check out my list of business bloggers. Follow the list if you would like to stay apprised of new additions.

Next, let me know who I should add to the list. Post their name and twitter ID in the comments below and I'll add them to the list.

[TIP: Please submit URL for the twitter ID so it's easy for me to click through and add to my list, like this: http://twitter.com/DeniseWakeman - don't forget the http://!]

Who is a business blogger?

People who use their blog as a marketing tool for their business. Bloggers who blog about business and business blogging. ;-)

I look forward to learning about new people I can connect with! This is a list in progress so if you don't see your name on the list and it should be...let me know!

Visibility via Video: How to Extend Your Reach Online

2009-10-29T08:00:00-07:00

If you've been following me for awhile, you know I return to the topic of online video from time to time. Why? Because it is an amazingly powerful online marketing tool.

When I was at BlogWorld & New Media Expo 2009, at least 90% of the attendees had video cameras and videos were being shot in every hallway, at dinners, at parties and everywhere in between.

YouTube is the 4th most visited site on the Web and it's the second largest search engine. 20 hours of video are being uploaded to YouTube every minute (saw that stat somewhere today).

The reason video is so popular is because it takes social to a whole new level. It's intimate and connects with the viewer more easily than text. And it's really easy to shoot and distribute video.

While prepping for a program I'm developing with a colleague, I put together an outline for the process I use to distribute my videos. Not only do I have a blog solely for my videos, I post them all over the Web for great reach and visibility. Here's my process:

Denise's Video Distribution process

1. Upload video to TubeMogul (free) for mass distribution (Day 1)

YouTube* >>> Twitter ("just uploaded a video" tweet)
Daily Motion
Yahoo
MySpace
MetaCafe
Blip.tv (can be set up to auto post on blog which I no longer do since I don't like how it's formatted; I post manually on vid tips blog)
Veoh
Vimeo

2. Grab embed code from YouTube and post video on appropriate blog (Biztipsblog or buildabetterblog) (Day 1 or 2)

Blog Post is automatically sent to Twitter via twitterfeed
Blog Post is automatically sent to Facebook via Notes app

Biz tips blog posts go automatically to FB profile
Build a better blog post go to Blog Squad fan page

Post is automatically sent to LinkedIn via BlogLink app

3. Post on video on Blog Squad Fan Page (Day 3)
Tag myself so it shows up in Profile videos

4. Post on Video blog for archiving video tips (Day 4)

5. If the video file is smaller than 25mb then I will post on my Posterous site

*I've set up my YouTube account to "share" certain actions I take. Among them are to announce new uploads to my twitter stream. I do not have YouTube alert Facebook since the link to YouTube is posted by default on the profile page. I want my business blogging videos to post on the Blog Squad page so they must be uploaded manually at this time. And I want to be able to tag them so I don't use the YouTube/Facebook application either.

Much of this is automated, some of it is done by my VAs and some of it I do. Adding video to my blogs, twitter and Facebook provide a multi media experience for my community, give them a chance to see and hear me and have a more personal connection. My videos are not high production quality, but judging by the comments I get, they provide good, valuable information and that's what counts in the end.

Have you incorporated video into your marketing mix? Do you post videos on your blog? Let me know how you're using video in your business and what process you use to get them distributed.

Not using video yet? Well let me be shameless here and tell you to get my course Online Video Made Easy. It's a home study course for video newbies and I partnered with the Online Video Guy, Lou Bortone to create the content. Check out the testimonials then get it and get started!

How to Reach 97 Million Americans

Use Video on Your Blog to Entertain Your Audience

Have you posted on your business blog today?

2009-10-27T09:41:30-07:00

I read a blog post today by one of my favorite people, Rich Brooks, about why businesses need to make time to blog. It made me think I might need to remind you WHY you need to be blogging for your business (and post often!).

You know my primary message is that your business blog is and should be your hub or home base for your online activity. The reasons why could create many blog posts so I'm going to just make a few points:

A well-optimized business blog will:
Create Massive visibility
Reverse the client chase - help you reach a new audience
Engage customers
Get feedback
Hone your unique voice
Market for you 24/7 - Search engine magnet
BLOG = Better Listings On Google (I can't remember where I heard this)
Attract clients to call YOU, already pre-sold

Remember the Technorati report: Professional bloggers (including self-employed) stated the following benefits of blogging (reinforces everything I've been telling you for the last 5 years!):

71% have greater visibility in their industry
63% said clients have purchased products and services
56% say their company is now regarded as a thought leader
40% asked to speak at conferences

1. Using your blog as your hub, not only provides a presence on the web where you can go deep and intimate with your prospects and customers, it's also a money-saving tool. A blog is far, far less expensive to build, design and maintain than a traditional static website that may cost thousands of dollars and tie you to a webmaster who holds you hostage, charging you for every update and making you wait until they have time to help you.

2. As I said your blog is your home base. This is where you create your point of distinction in the marketplace. Where you have the opportunity to demonstrate your expertise, expose your personality which gives your audience the chance to get to know, then like and finally trust you as you share valuable, useful content that makes their lives better. This is the forum to foster interaction through commenting and guide the public conversation toward private connections (email and client engagement).

3. And finally the third point flows from the second. When your readers like and trust you, they start to take action. They subscribe to get updates, they trade their email address for a free report or to get your ezine and then, when you have something to offer - a product or service - they are now much more inclined to buy. My business exploded when I started blogging. Because I was attracting more traffic, readers were getting involved with me, they liked what I had to say and they trusted me enough to take out their credit cards. This is the power of blogging for your business.

But it takes more than putting up a blog for it to be successful. Anyone can set up a blog but not everyone gets great results. Without a plan, you may think blogs don't work and that, frankly, would be untrue.

You've got to be consistent and constant and MAKE TIME to market your business with your blog.

So, have you posted on your business blog today?

5 Critical Tactics for Business Blog Success (audio replay)

2009-10-25T08:00:00-07:00

I was recently interviewed by Travis Greenlee for his Business Mastery Club about what's required for business blog success. I negotiated permission to share the program; I've posted the audio replay so you can benefit from it to...

Technorati's State of the Blogosphere Wrap Up

2009-10-24T09:28:04-07:00

If you're publishing a blog (a social marketing tool) and using other online marketing and social marketing tools for your business, I strongly recommend you read the entire State of the Blogosphere 2009 report. You'll get insights into trends and how professionals and self-employeds are using the Web to build credibility, establish thought leadership, make money and grow their businesses.

Here are quick links you can jump to for each section:

State of The Blogosphere Introduction

Day 1: Who Are the Bloggers?

Day 2: The What and Why of Blogging

Day 3: The How of Blogging

Day 4: Blogging Revenues, Brands and Blogs

Day 5: Twitter, Global Impact and the Future of Blogging

The key take-away for me is that for business, blogs are only getting more popular and contribute greatly to the bottom line of most businesses.

If your blog isn't performing as well as you'd like or getting the results you want, check out my free video course on How to Get the Best Out of Your Blog.

State of the Blogosphere 2009 - The How of Blogging

2009-10-21T09:17:06-07:00

Part Three of Technorati's State of the Blogosphere 2009 focuses on the How of Blogging. There are some interesting stats on how bloggers drive traffic to their blogs that jumped out at me.

Look at the "self-employed" (that's you and me - professionals and entrepreneurs who use a blog to market their business) numbers.

From most popular to least, we are using the following ways to drive visitors to our blogs:

List your blog on Technorati
Tag your blog posts
List your blog on Google (have you set up a Google profile with links to your blog?)
Comment on other blogs
Get listed on blog directories
Link to blogs on a blogroll
Produce content on other blogs
Attend conferences for bloggers
Create a blog on a broader network
Pay for online advertising

How does that fit with your traffic driving activities? It's not really how it plays out for me. My #1 source of traffic is from organic search results and #2 is from twitter.

By the way, if you haven't listened to my free audio program on How to Drive Qualified Traffic to Your Blog, you can get the audio and transcript here.

BlogWorld Expo on CNN iReport

2009-10-19T12:05:00-07:00

Here's a great video from CNN iReporter Chris Morrow, with quick interviews (me included) with some top bloggers at BlogWorld and New Media Expo...good stuff here. [Can't see the video in your blog reader? Click here.]

State of the Blogosphere 2009 is Out

2009-10-19T08:43:47-07:00

I just spent 3 days at BlogWorld and New Media Expo in Las Vegas. This year was by far the biggest: more people, more speakers, more presentations, more parties...

The opening keynote was delivered by Richard Jalichandra, CEO of Technorati, and he shared tidbits from the brand new State of the Blogosphere 2009 released today (here's link to presentation). The report is released over five days and today is focused on: Who Are the Bloggers?

Overall, bloggers are a highly educated and affluent group. Nearly half of all bloggers we surveyed have earned a graduate degree, and the majority have a household income of $75,000 per year or higher. As blogging is now firmly a part of the mainstream, we see that the average blogger has three or more blogs and has been blogging for two or more years. We are also noticing an ever-increasing overlap between blogging and mainstream media.

9% of respondents to the professionally produced survey, are self-employed and 70% of those say they blog about their business and are blogging more now than when they started.

Professional bloggers (including self-employed) stated the following benefits of blogging (reinforces everything I've been telling you for the last 5 years!):

71% have greater visibility in their industry
63% said clients have purchased products and services
56% say their company is now regarded as a thought leader
40% asked to speak at conferences

What's not to like about that? It doesn't matter what the industry is, either. So, if you're not blogging for your business, let's talk! If you are and you don't feel you're getting the most bang out of your blog, let's do a blog review and see where you can tweak and improve to get much better results. Business blogging works...you don't have to take my word for it. Take the words of the 2900 bloggers in 50 countries who responded to the survey.

By the way, you can see some of my pictures from BlogWorld on my Posterous site.

Blog World and New Media Expo is ON!

2009-10-15T06:08:00-07:00

The 3rd Annual Blog World and New Media Expo officially starts today with a full day of programs focusing on social media marketing. I'm in Las Vegas to learn, network and reconnect with friends and colleagues. As an introvert, this is a big stretch for me because I'm on for three straight days. It's exciting and fun and exhausting and sooooo worth it.

Because I'll be in sessions literally all day and I have breakfast, lunch and dinner dates with colleagues, and parties every night, I cannot promise any blog posts.

If you want to stay on top of what's happening in real time, I recommend you follow me on Twitter and follow the hashtag #bwe09. If you use Tweetdeck to manage twitter, then create a search column to follow all the tweets with that hashtag or follow the stream on search.twitter.com.

If I do post, I will probably use my Posterous site since I can quickly email photos and updates from my phone. If you subscribe to my updates you'll get an email when I post new stuff.

Can't wait to share new business blogging and social media marketing info and trends with you in the coming weeks...blog on!

Business Blogging Info to Check Out

2009-10-14T07:35:00-07:00

This week is blog crazy! Thursday through Saturday I'll be at the 3rd Annual Blog World and New Media Expo connecting with colleagues and clients in person (imagine that! it's the best part of making friends online -- meeting them in person) and soaking in presentations by the movers and shakers in blogging and new media. The energy at BlogWorld is always very high and the content has never disappointed. If you're going to be there, let me know so we can connect! By the way, it's not too late to register for the best new media event of the year AND you can still save 20% with code PB20. If you're attending BlogWord, here's an "unofficial" list of all the parties.

Back to some business blogging goodness for you...

Social Media Examiner Launched

On Monday, a brand new online magazine was launched called Social Media Examiner, designed to help entrepreneurs and business owners navigate the social media jungle! I'm proud to be part of the editorial team and invite you to check it out.

To mark the launch, Mike Stelzner, the visionary and editor in chief, hosted four live video Q&A sessions. I was one of the guests and took on questions related primarily to blogging. When you subscribe to get free updates, you'll be alerted when the video replays are available. Mari Smith, Chris Garrett and Jason Falls also took questions during one hour video chats using the tinychat.com technology. It was a lot of fun!

My debut article is also posted: Top 10 Easy Steps to Starting a Business Blog

Up Close and Personal with Radio Red

On Monday, I also was interviewed by Bonnie Graham aka Radio Red for her Blog Talk Radio Show, Up Close and Personal. You can listen to the one hour replay here. Bonnie really grilled me about why businesses should be blogging and questioned me about information overload and whether or not blogs are really necessary or useful for business anymore. We debated the merits of twitter and Facebook as well. We covered some interesting territory. You can listen online or download the file to your mp3 player.

Next week I've got two blog related events: a teleseminar hosted by Travis Greenlee and another interview on Blog Talk Radio with host Becky Cortino. Details to come...

If you attended either of Monday's events, I'd love to get your thoughts, comments, feedback. Or better yet, what do you want to know? I'm working on the content for the teleseminar with Travis and can shape it anyway I want. What's your burning question about business blogging? Let me know below.