Are you passionate about what you do? Do you truly know that what you have to offer your client’s makes a difference and provides definite value? When you’re talking to someone about what you do, are you excited? Do you love talking about every detail, and why it’s so cool?

If the answer is yes, then are you using the online tools available to let people know the level of your conviction? Can they sense your passion? Do you engage them so they can get a sense of, and even share your vision?

I love the way the internet has given everyone with a connection a way to get their voice out there. A way to let people know how excited you are about how you (or your products or services) can help them.

Tools You Can (and should) Use

Some things you should be doing and places you could be spending time to develop your online presence, build your brand and develop your voice as an authority in your industry.

Blogging (also known as Content Marketing, when it’s applied to business)
Set up (or have someone set up) a WordPress site and become a blogging expert. This is one of the most powerful tools you can currently use to build and develop your brand online.

Here are some articles I’ve written to give you more information in this area:
Social Networks

Spending time on sites like these can help you not only spread the word about what you have to offer, but almost more importantly help you develop networks and relationships with other professionals that can help you move forward with your own business.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Google+

These are just some of the heavy hitters. There are a lot of other networks out there. Find the ones that suit you best. Find the ones where your customers hang out.

Video, Video and MORE Video!

There will never be such a thing as too much video! If you’re nervous about putting out video, don’t be.

It’s no secret that YouTube.com has greatly lowered the standards of what we consider acceptable video production quality.

Gear?

Have a web cam? Sit in front of it and GO! Most point-and-shoot cameras can now do acceptable (and sometimes awesome) web quality video.

Got an iPhone or iPad2? You can start doing video to help develop your web presence.

Using video is a very effective way for you to show people how passionate you are about what you have to offer. They can feel like you’re right there with them.

Take Me, For Example

Look at the videos I’ve done for ImagePerceptions.com. Nothing high quality about them, and I’m definitely not a smooth professional spokes person, but I’ve gotten good feedback from new clients that told me were excited to work with me because they already felt like they had met me. I was already, through my videos, giving them helpful information (for free) on how they can help improve the online aspects of their business..

Video Content in Search

Another benefit to having more content on YouTube is that YouTube has become a powerful and well used search engine. The more video you have there, the more chance you have of being found and connecting with new clients.

Okay, this post kind of just scratches the surface of the tips of a few different icebergs. (combine metaphors much?). I’ve written several posts on each of these topics. Dig through my blog and you’ll find more information on each of these topics I’ve covered here.

More importantly, if you’re not using these tools yet, get out there! Set up a Facebook page for your business today. Twitter’s a different animal. It takes a while to get the hang of it, but once you do, you’ll really appreciate it. Maybe even love it! (maybe)

Point is, Just Get Started!

How About You?

Are you passionate about what you do? What’s your experience in using these tools to develop your online presence? I’d love to hear any of your stories or suggestions here.

In using social media/networking, you don’t want to spend your whole day on Facebook or Twitter, right?

Plugins to Do Your Work For You!

There are plugins you can use with WordPress so that, when you publish a new blog post it automatically goes to your Facebook or Twitter account. That way you do something on your website and your social media presence is updated automatically!s

So Plugins!  That’s the Answer, Right?

No!

Why not? Maybe you don’t want to hassle with Facebook or Twitter. To be honest, you don’t really “get” them and blogging is enough of a challenge for you.

Here’s why not. People who are Facebook and Twitter savvy (the people you’re trying to reach via those mediums) can easily recognize automated posts. This tends to engage them less as they don’t feel it’s really your voice, talking about something that is worthwhile to them. They see it as just, you blasting your commercial out to them, not caring about engagement, or what they have to say about it. It’s about effective as Junk Mail or Spam.

Does That Mean You Shouldn’t Use Plugins to Post Automatically?

Not necessarily. I use plugins to automatically add my blog posts on Facebook (WordBooker) and Twitter (WP to Twitter). But then I follow up with other, personalized messages on both platforms. Especially on Twitter, it’s a good idea to post several times throughout the day. (use different wording though!)

I use the plugins because at least I know the info is posted there in case I forget to followup. But I know that’s not using those FREE GIANT VENUES OF ADVERTISING most effectively.

Plugins – To Use or Not To Use

Sure, use the plugins if you want to. Just be sure to really make an effort to show your face around Facebook and Twitter. Let people know you’re a real person. That way your Facebook and Twitter accounts will be much more effective in marketing, networking and developing your brand online.

Logged on to ImagePerceptions.com this morning and was greeted with the announcement of the release of WordPress 3.3 (named, Sonny – in honor of the great jazz saxophonist Sonny Stitt). As always, the message suggested I click to update now.

And, as I always do, I clicked to do the automatic update. (I love how easy WordPress makes my life!)

I had heard rumors of some of the upcoming updates, but it’s always a little exciting to see any major changes in the appearance and function of the new version.

The New Stuff!

Here are a few cool new things… (most of this is taken from WordPress’ announcement)

Flyout Menus (Nice!)
Speed up navigating the dashboard and reduce repetitive clicking with our new flyout submenus. As you hover over each main menu item in your dashboard navigation, the submenus will magically appear, providing single-click access to any dashboard screen.

Header + Admin Bar = Toolbar
To save space and increase efficiency, we’ve combined the admin bar and the old Dashboard header into one persistent toolbar. Hovering over the toolbar items will reveal submenus when available for quick access.

Drag-and-Drop Uploader
They just keep making it easier! As the name implies, now you can just drag your files to the uploader window to beam them up.

iPad/tablet Support!
I really think this is my favorite thing they’ve done here. Certain dashboard screens have been updated to look better at various sizes, including improved iPad/tablet support. Before, when wanting to blog on your iPad you had a very limited toolbar. It definitely limited your mobile blogging experience. Now you can login with your iPad and create a new post or page with all of your tools present and accounted for! I love this!!!

Anyway, this is just a few, but significant changes. To read more go to wordpress.org/news/2011/12/sonny/

Oh man! Another Network to Learn!??!

Now, for some of you who are still trying get your head around social networks, you’re probably thinking, “Oh GEEEEEEeeeezzz, Now I’ve got another thing to learn?”

Well, to help you understand Google+ a little better and ways you can use it for your business, Chris Brogan did an online seminar on this very subject. The seminar was last week, but the video of it is now available.

By the way, if you’re not familiar with Chris, you need to stop by his site, ChrisBrogan.com. I really recommend you follow this guy.

I think this new addition to the world of social stuff is a good and important one, so I just wanted to share Chris‘ video with you.

Thank you Chris for doing this!!

Cool, glad I got your attention. Now, on with the show…

The more you do it, the better you get!

Well, okay, unfortunately this might not necessarily be true for everyone in either category. However there is a pretty good chance that…

• Your skills will develop
• You’ll keep learning new ways to be more effective
• The more passionate you are about what you’re doing, the better
• The more you are focused on other’s needs, the better

So blog.

Blog often.

Develop your skills!

Focus on the needs of your audience and keep ‘em coming back for more!

Okay, that’s all. On with your day now…

Looking to inspire more readers to come back for more? Here are five things you can do that could help.

1. Say it with Less

This kind of follows up on my last post. Make it easy for your readers to get your message. Don’t give them three paragraphs when you can say it in one. (or less!)

2. Make it Useful

What are the questions your customers/clients always ask you? Do your posts answer those questions? Offer information and help that your readers are looking for. Rather than putting out “filler” content just to blog more frequently, work on having better more powerful and useful content. Even if it means you miss a day here or there.

3. Make it about Them

Always focus your attention on your readers. Is your writing inspiring to them? Something that helps them? Something they can use? Or is it just you talking about you.

4. Tell a Story

It’s the most memorable and relatable  way we learn.

5. Spread the Word

Kind of obvious, but…. Don’t keep it a secret. Make sure you engage on the social media platform in interesting ways to let people know you’ve written something that they might be interested in and point them back to your posts.

You’ve Got a Lot to Offer

You know about your business. You’re an expert at what you do and how you do it. Keep refining your communication skills so that your helpful information gets across to your readers and more and more of them will want to come back again.

How about You?

There are so many ways to build your readership. What are some of the ways that you’ve found most helpful in your own experience?

1. The web continues to grow exponentially.

2. There is much more content out there on an hourly basis.

3. Sure, content that is important is… well, important!

4. (and this is my favorite) But, the important content that is delivered in an engaging, entertaining, easy to read and digest fashion  wins more votes (and actually gets read).

Does your writing style make reading your post seem like Work?

If someone comes to your blog post to read your message, how is it presented to them, visually?

This is important. Because if your blog post, no matter how great the information, is presented as large blocks of text, that’s basically like putting up a big wall saying, “If you want this message, you’re going to have to work for it!”

You Want It to Look Easy!

You want your visitors and subscribers to see an inviting formatting style that says, “Very cool, this is exactly what I’m looking for and this person has made it very simple for me! Sweet!”

If that’s not what they’re getting from your blog, they’ll move on to someone’s blog which does provide them with a style that does make them feel that way. Even if your information is better!

Things You Can Do to Help

Chunk it up!

Try to use no more than 2-3 sentences per paragraph – even if it does follow good form you learned in school. The web has changed all that.

Add Headings and Subheadings!

Putting in Larger headings and Subheadings will help you break up your content and help simplify and deliver your message.

Bullet Points

A bit repetitive but, using lists and bullet points will help you break up your content and help simplify and deliver your message.

White Space, White Space…. and more White Space

Love and embrace your white space. It’s like taking a breath while you’re speaking. Let your readers catch a break from your message with every breath. Ironically it will help them move through your post more quickly and get more meaning from it.

Throw in a Picture or Two

It just raises the entertainment value and makes it more fun.

So…

Ultimately, you want your message so clearly spelled out in your Headings, Subheadings, Bullet points and images that if that’s all they saw, they would come away with your intended message. And, they will appreciate how easy you made it for them. And, that could inspire them to come back more often.

You put the effort into sharing your knowledge and helpful information out their for others to gain from (or at least so the know how cool you are). Just make it easy for them so your efforts aren’t in vein.

How About You?

These points are just a few simple ways to punch things up a bit. What are some of your methods you’ve found to really help make your content more visually appealing and easier to digest?

I have to say, I’m as guilty as anyone (really took some significant time off the blog this year) on this topic, so that means I can only improve right!?

The most successful blogs are being posted to daily (some with multiple posts per day), or at least on a regular basis, so that they retain their audiences interest and attention. If you blog like a fiend for three weeks, then go quite for a month or so, then put out a post, then another one in three weeks…. you’ll find a hard time finding an audience.

People like stuff they can look forward to. You’ve got a lot to offer so don’t keep them waiting. And keep in mind that blogging doesn’t have to be a huge task. Maybe one day your post might be 200-300 words, but then others might only be 25-50. It doesn’t matter as long as it’s valuable content.

Just don’t leave ‘em hangin’.

I’m revisiting this topic. I wrote about Gravatar.com last year, but I think it’s a cool enough addition to your branding toolkit that it’s worth putting it out there again. Like so many of the most powerful tools available online these days, this is a free and effective service. Do yourself a favor and check it out!

Blogs are a wonderful source of information on just about any topic you’re looking for. Reading blogs by industry leaders can be very helpful in your education and learning more about what people are talking about in your industry, and they can help you learn about how you want to write your own blog posts.

Along with the value of reading other’s blogs is the value of commenting on them and contributing to the conversation yourself. It helps develop the conversation and it also lets people know who you are and a little about what you have to offer to the conversation.

Gravatars

If you’re new to reading blogs you may have noticed how some of the authors of blog comments have a small thumbnail image that accompanies their comment. It might be a photo of them or a company logo or something of that nature. Maybe you’ve left comments on blogs but your thumbnail is just a generic icon. You can have your own image accompany your blog posting and comments.

Now this is not a huge thing that’s necessarily going to dramatically increase your business or revenue. But it’s just another way to help develop your identity online. People are visual in nature. The more they see your image popping up here and there, it will help with you or your business’ recognition online. Why not take advantage of that?

Here’s how you do it.

Go to gravatar.com and sign up, then up load an image that you want associated with your email address. Now when ever you post a comment on a blog using that email address, your image will now accompany your comments. If you want to help your business’ branding you could use your company logo, however people generally like seeing people’s photos instead. Blogging and social media helps to put the human element into the web. A personal photo just helps that. I confess that I use Image Perceptions’ logo for my gravatar image. I have it on my todo list to replace that with my own image just for that reason, so bear with me.

This method would also apply to Vimeo or any other service that provides the embed code.