September 28, 2006
MySpace Blogging - For Profit?
The last week has been amazing.
Over 100 people bought copies of my special reports on MySpace blogging - and the feedback has been great. Only one person was unhappy with what he got, but the majority are ecstatic.
Why?
Because until now, no one thought MySpace com blogging could be profitable!
True, MySpace blogging should not be used primarily for profits. But when you see some of the top sites there, each blog post gets in the region of 160 to 250 COMMENTS - and when you factor in that only one in 10 (or fewer) blog readers actually bother to take the trouble to comment... you're talking big numbers here.
Here's the thing - most of the TOP blogs are not using even 5% of what I'm talking about in my report.
There are twenty FOUR different ways to profit from MySpace blogs - yet, the top bloggers there are doing it as a hobby!
Oh well, to each his or her own I guess. It just seems such a shame to see so much targeted traffic go waste :)
If you'd like the report, you can see it here: MySpace Blog Profits
September 21, 2006
MySpace com blogging - How To Spread The Word?
MySpace.com blogging can be confusing, especially when it comes to getting the word out to your network of friends.
It isn't easy to figure out - and even harder when you're surfing around blogs for the first time on MySpace com.
To invite others to your blog, here's what you do.
1 - Click on VIEW MY >> Blog in your profile page
2 - On your blog page, under your photo, you'll see a link to "EMAIL TO A FRIEND"
3 - Click that link, and you'll be taken to a form which you fill in with details and send to a friend.
If they are intrigued enough by your email, they'll click on your link and drop by your blog.
If you want to tell a friend about someone else's blog, especially one you came across from a 'Top 100 Blogs' link, you'll have to the click the BLOG link to the top left of the page.
This will take you to the blog's homepage, where you'll find a 'EMAIL TO A FRIEND' link you can use.
MySpace.com blogging can be confusing at times - but is still a lot of fun!
Technorati Tags:
blogging on myspace com, myspace.com blogging, blogging, blog, what is blogging, how do I start blogging
How do I start blogging for profit?
Have you been thinking blogs are not for profit? Well, change your thinking, because there are many different ways to make money from your blog - if you want to do it.
How? Well, for starters you can read my article about Profit Blogging - click here
In it, I've listed three simple ways to make your blog turn profitable. And if this article whets your apetite for more, you could buy my bestselling ebook, "Blog Profit Ideas EXPOSED - 33 Blog Profit Ideas You Can UseToday"
It's a short, concise, no-fluff compilation of powerful ideas to make money from your blog. Just one of those ideas helped me raise over $27,000 in less than a week recently to sponsor my "Heart Kids Blogathon" - see my blog for details on how you too can help save a child's life and make a difference... click here
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging myspace com, how do I start blogging
How do I start blogging at low cost?
Your blogging may be expensive - or cheap.
Few minutes a day might be enough. Or 26 hours in a day may not be quite enough. It depends upon how much you want to do, and how fast you want it done.
If all you wish to do is post a few messages every day on your blog, it won't take long at all. Just a few seconds to log on, write your message into an online form, and click a button to publish it to your blog!
You could even host it remotely on a free service - all it'll cost is the time you take to log in and post.
If you're more serious about it, you'll need to spend time looking for, and visiting other blogs. You'll have to link to them - and get linked back in return.
You'll have to host your blog on its own domain, on your server. If your blog is commercial in purpose, you'll need to purchase commercial licenses from the software developer.
Then you'll have to install it - or get it done. It'll cost a bit, though not too much.
Look at it this way. You could either publish in a flash for free and hope for luck to guide you to glory. Or you could do it step by step, investing in your blog, knowing you'll reap rich rewards in the future.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging myspace com, how do I start blogging
How to Blog - And NOT
What should you NOT do with your blog?
Don't post false information!
In the blogosphere, word spreads fast. Amazingly, blindingly fast - sometimes. You could be very popular - or very red faced - with equal ease.
It all depends on what you post on your blog!
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging myspace com, how do I start blogging
How Do I Start Blogging So Readers Come Back?
"Can I get visitors to my blog?" soon turns into "How can I get them to come back again?"
It isn't difficult.
Fresh content. Keep it updated with new messages. By their very nature, blogs are constantly evolving. By making your blog a frequently updated resource for breaking news or information on your topic, you'll make it a 'must-see' destination and attract targeted readers who'll keep coming back for more.
Bulletins. Invite your blog readers to sign up for reminders whenever you update it. Many blogging software programs have a feature that allows editors to send bulletins via email to members who have chosen to receive them.
Third-party programs also plug into blogs and offer this service. Bloglet - at http://www.bloglet.com - offers a similar feature where you host a sign up form on your blog.
Syndication. An RSS feed is available for weblogs. People who use news aggregators can subscribe to the weblog. In a convergence of push and pull technologies, services like Klip offer a way to 'subscribe' to regularly updated data feeds from a blog.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging myspace com, how do I start blogging
How Do I Start Blogging To Get Visitors?
What is blogging, if you don't have visitors? Here are some tips to help you get more readers to your blog.
In essence, this is very similar to promoting a new website. And the answer is very simple –
Mention your blog EVERYWHERE, to EVERYONE
Note, I said 'simple', not 'easy' :)
Here are some quick ways to get started:
1. List it on Blog Search Engines and Directories. Blog content is usually SE friendly, so you can rank high for specific terms by sticking to a theme as you blog.
2. You visit other blogs and comment on their articles. Leave links back to your blog. Even write about them on *your* blog.
Then tell them about what you've written. They'll respond. This way, readers of both blogs can find them. It is a mutually productive form of link exchanging.
3. Blogrolls - Weblogs often have a blogroll, linking to sites that the author thinks are interesting, informative, or useful. Keep your own blogroll growing. Try and get your blog listed on as many blogrolls as possible.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging myspace com, how do I start blogging
How Do I Start Blogging With Others?
Yes, there are several ways you can have content added to your blog - by others.
If you have a team of content providers, you can create several user accounts using your blogging software. Each member of your team then logs in and writes for your blog, adding their content.
You can even assign different levels of permissions for each user in some types of blog software.
Another way to get contributed content is to invite your blog readers to enter comments and feedback. Clicking on a link at the end of a post will bring up a popup window in which a reader can add comments. And the author can respond.
A third way to include content on your blog is by publishing syndicated content from others on your blog using some XML programming.
Hope you now know how can I get started blogging with others.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging myspace com, how do I start blogging
How Often Should I Write Or Update My Blog?
Once you've got the "What is a blog?" and "How can I start blogging?" questions sorted out, the next that arises is how often to post updates.
A good weblog is updated often, with pointers to interesting events, pages, stories and happenings elsewhere on the Web. New stuff piles on top of the page; older stuff sinks to the bottom.
Suit Yourself
A calendar can be intimidating. Is there any point to a weblog - a website - that is only updated once a week? Once a month? Once a year?
That depends on many factors that go to the heart of why you wish to create a blog in the first place.
The good news is that no one's going to punish you if you post material infrequently! So relax. Enjoy blogging.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging myspace com, how do I start blogging
September 20, 2006
Make Your Business Blog Better
Want some guidelines to make your business blog better? Here you go... 3 ways to improve your business blog.
Try and encapsulate your business in your blog... make it reflect your company's spirit, purpose, mission and passion. Are you informal or stilted? Serious or zany? Creative or secure?
Have your blogger's personalities reflected on your business blog. No one likes reading dry corporate memos. Make your business blog a voice of the bloggers who update it.
Write with your audience in mind. If it's for customers, write things that interest them. If it's for internal communication, keep your style different.
In addition to this, post to your blog on a regular, frequent schedule and stay consistent in your voice and tone of publishing. That way you will turn a powerful communicating tool into a business building vehicle.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
Business blogging and trade shows
Does our industry have trade shows? Or annual events? Conventions, seminars, large gatherings?
If you're blogging for business, these events are grist for your mill.
Attend the events with your laptop in tow. Blog from right there on the spot. You could do podcasts while interviewing attendees, or even speakers. Ask questions, record answers on your blog. Pick up a camera, shoot pictures and blog them.
Or you could do summary posts of each session, or share the breakthroughs you got while at the event.
Handing out a questionnaire to attendees, and offering to post their responses to your business blog for free can get you enough to keep your blog fresh and updated for weeks!
And by asking if other attendees have business blogs, you can links yours with theirs, giving both your businesses extra exposure.
Business blogging at trade shows can be fun, valuable and profitable.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
Business blogs for Bed & Breakfasts!
Can a bed-and-breakfast (B&B) benefit from blogging for business?
Yes, and let's look at some potential ideas.
If your B&B business blog does nothing else but post daily weather information, conditions on the lake nearby, or the ice on the slopes, or fishing conditions in the surroundings - will that be valuable to your clients?
Or if you posted about the newest tourist attractions in the vicinity, giving details about bookings, rates etc. along with seasonal changes, will that help your customers?
How about teaming up with travel agents to put together specials for touring the hot spots - and you blog about the details on our business blog?
And talk about the fruits and veggies and flowers that bloom in each season, showing how visiting your hotel this weekend can help them enjoy delicious mangoes, fragrant orchids and succulent cucumbers - that you don't see for the rest of the year?
All of these are well within the capacity of every B&B owner - but guess how many of them blog?
Right! You have an edge over the competition - just as anyone ready to launch a business blog does!
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
Blogging for Business ? Keep track
If you're blogging for business, it pays to track your readers. Simple scripts like SiteHitMeter, or Google Analytics can give you valuable demographic data on your blog visitors.
By finding out which posts get the most 'reads' you know what topic interests your audience most. By networking with other bloggers who visit your blog, you can get reciprocal links, traffic from their sites, and feedback on what's happening around you.
And don't forget - the next visitor to your blog could end up being your biggest client or joint venture partner, and you won't know unless you track response and keep up with feedback sent to you.
Blogs are about conversations - and blogging for business is no different, except the conversations are a bit more formal in keeping with the business orientation of your blog!
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
More on using Business Blogs
And there's more to how you can use business blogs.
Announce News
Your business blog can be a company bulletin board, spreading news about your organization and its products or services to customers.
Employee Recognition
Post 'Best Employee of the Week' posts on your business blog - and watch morale zoom. Everyone loves to see themself in print - even if only on electronic media!
Team Work
Internal business blogs can be communication tools for project teams working on different components of a project. For a small business that outsources work, it can help everyone stay on the same page!
Pre-launching
Build buzz about forthcoming product launches through your business blog - and watch the blogosphere take it and spread it virally.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
How to use a business blog
There are many different ways in which you can use a business blog.
Sales, Deals and Coupons
Use your blog to announce time-sensitive promotions. It not only cuts down cost of delivering these promos, it also gets clients into the habit of visiting your business blog often.
Special Web-Only Events
Contests, puzzles, quizzes, riddles - all leading to a winner getting a prize that can be claimed at your store lets you bring in new customers, through your business blog... at very low expense.
Customer Support
Having a regular FAQ page is boring. The same issues addressed on a customer blog is a bit more fun - and unique. As your business blog will archive past posts, a search of your blog can answer most customer queries.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
Can a business blog help your small business?
The short answer is 'Yes, of course'.
How can a business blog help your small business?
First, it is a simple, low cost, low tech way to get your business on the Internet, have a 'Web presence'. No costly web designers, not expensive SEO stuff, no paying for advertising. Blogging your business on the Net can be the most cost and effort efficient way to get your business online.
You can share company news and experiences through your business blog with the perfect audience - an interested or curious prospect who comes to your business blog interested in learning more, as distinct from other advertising that you push in their faces or ram down their throats!
And the news you post on your business blog is timely, changes often and keeps interested readers coming back often - and in the long run translates into more business!
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
Can a business blog help your small business?
The short answer is 'Yes, of course'.
How can a business blog help your small business?
First, it is a simple, low cost, low tech way to get your business on the Internet, have a 'Web presence'. No costly web designers, not expensive SEO stuff, no paying for advertising. Blogging your business on the Net can be the most cost and effort efficient way to get your business online.
You can share company news and experiences through your business blog with the perfect audience - an interested or curious prospect who comes to your business blog interested in learning more, as distinct from other advertising that you push in their faces or ram down their throats!
And the news you post on your business blog is timely, changes often and keeps interested readers coming back often - and in the long run translates into more business!
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
MySpace.com Blogging Profits
There's a report I wrote recently about MySpace.com Blogging.
You can get a copy - click here
MySpace Blog Profits
How To Profit From Blogging on MySpace.com
In TWENTY-FOUR Different Ways
And no, NONE of them violate the MySpace.com 'Terms of Service', in letter or spirit. In fact, I list SEVEN bonus blog profit ideas that you should NOT use on MySpace.com - but can profitably be employed on your other blogs.
Download your copy - click here
Technorati Tags:
blogging on myspace com, myspace.com blogging, blogging, blog, what is blogging, how do I start blogging
September 19, 2006
MySpace com Blogging - Things to NOT do... #4
Don't Display Blog Ads
If you have a high-traffic blog, then you’ll have dreamed of this way to monetize your traffic. By displaying text ads on different portions of your blog, you could earn a steady income for each ad loaded into a visitor’s browser.
Except that it's another thing prohibited by MySpace.com.
So pay-per-view and pay-per-click advertising models do work on your MySpace.com blogs - but not to your advantage!
Technorati Tags:
blogging on myspace com, myspace.com blogging, blogging, blog, what is blogging, how do I start blogging
Customer Service With MySpace.com Blogging
Don't forget you can use your blog to nurture relationships with your customers and clients.
Post updates about your new enhancements or bug fixes for your product and invite your buyers over to MySpace.com to read them. This serves the dual purpose of driving more traffic to your blog, while showing future customers just how well you'll take care of them later on.
On your blog, give gifts to all your customers who visit your blog. Ask for feedback and suggestions from buyers about making your product or service better. Provide them with advance notice of new releases expected.
By building and strengthening a positive relationship with customers, you'll retain existing customers. An added benefit is that of delighted customers telling their friends about your business. And MySpace.com makes that viral pass-along quick and easy!
Technorati Tags:
blogging on myspace com, myspace.com blogging, blogging, blog, what is blogging, how do I start blogging
MySpace com Blogging - Things to NOT do... #3
You can do Product Reviews - but don't expect to link them to a commission-generating site.
Your blog is focused on a topic. Each post could be an in-depth review of a new product in your interest area. You could include a short account of your experience with it, your opinion as an expert or passionate user, even a recommendation for readers.
But where normally, you would do well to find an online store that sells this product and has a revenue sharing arrangement for referred sales, and have your ongoing income stream in place, earning you passive income as you blog away... this too is prohibited by MySpace.com!
Sorry, but they are pretty clear about that too. They say:
"The following is a partial list of the kind of activity that is illegal or prohibited on the MySpace Website... (including) displaying an advertisement on your profile, or accepting payment or anything of value from a third person in exchange for your performing any commercial activity on or through the MySpace Services on behalf of that person, such as placing commercial content on your profile, posting blogs or bulletins with a commercial purpose"
Technorati Tags:
blogging on myspace com, myspace.com blogging, blogging, blog, what is blogging, how do I start blogging
MySpace Blogging to Create Buzz
Have an upcoming product launch? Releasing a powerful update or fantastic new service? Get your blog buzzing.
Post some teasers about your impending release. Offer samples, trials or previews. Invite comments and feedback from readers. Ask for ideas and suggestions.
Get people talking about it. MySpace.com blogging can build buzz – and in turn, this will enhance sales when you're ready to roll.
But on MySpace.com, make sure all the time that you don't cross the line into blatantly commercial use of your blog. Stick with the buzz building, and you should be fine!
Technorati Tags:
blogging on myspace com, myspace.com blogging, blogging, blog, what is blogging, how do I start blogging
MySpace com Blogging - Things to NOT do... #2
Affiliate Product Selling is prohibited.
With your regular non-MySpace business blog, you can even weave in product recommendations and various offers. By using this tactic carefully, making sure the links are relevant to your audience and related to the content you’re providing on your blog posting, you can see a fair bit of profits come in.
But do NOT try it on your MySpace.com blog - don’t DO it. From MySpace.com 'Terms of Service':
"Commercial advertisements, affiliate links, and other forms of solicitation may be removed from Member profiles without notice and may result in termination of Membership privileges. Appropriate legal action will be taken for any illegal or unauthorized use of the MySpace Services."
You don't want the behemoth's legal team on your back, now, do you?
Technorati Tags:
blogging on myspace com, myspace.com blogging, blogging, blog, what is blogging, how do I start blogging
Add QUALITY content to your MySpace.com blog - often
What's worse than no blog? One with ‘old' or ‘poor quality' content.
With MySpace com blogging, update your blog as often as possible – at least once a week, preferably more often. By providing quality TARGETED content that is useful to - and usable by – readers, you're setting your blog apart from the vast majority that are simply personal journals.
True, weblogs weren't primarily meant to generate profits. But then, wouldn't you like to make money from something you're doing for fun, anyway?
And with MySpace.com blogging, your blog readership is directly proportional to the frequency with which you update it with relevant, useful content.
MySpace com Blogging - Things to NOT do... #1
Direct Selling Blogs are a 'no-no'
A way to add profit streams and value to any other blog is to use a direct selling model of revenue creation - but NOT on MySpace.com.
By including a powerful sales letter for your product or service, specifically focused on the benefits a buyer will get from it, along with a link to place orders at the end of each post, you can encourage impulse buys from readers who have learned about your product or service and want it right away - but that's only if you have a blog hosted outside MySpace.com
If you try it on your MySpace.com blog, you risk losing your membership. At worst, your blog post will get deleted - fast!
Technorati Tags:
blogging on myspace com, myspace.com blogging, blogging, blog, what is blogging, how do I start blogging
Getting Started With Profitable MySpace Blogging
Choose the RIGHT title. One that's catchy, memorable, attention-grabbing. This is critical.
Your first step is to create a blog that's remarkable in every way possible. That stands out from the crowd and screams “Notice Me”. A good title can actually draw qualified readers to your MySpace.com blog and help implement any of the ideas I'll reveal soon.
For example: 'A blog about unusual things' isn't nearly as captivating as 'Remarkably Purple Spots'– and won't get name recognition the way RPS does.
Let's say your blog is the one chosen for "Most Popular Blog Posts - Updated Daily". It means literally thousands, or even tens of thousands of people could see your blog listed on the MySpace.com homepage.
That's only part of the battle.
Without a catchy title that jumps off the page and smacks your target audience in the eye, you won't get that all important click-through - so make sure you take good care to pick the best name for your MySpace.com blog. Using eye-catching icons, maybe even video clips, can also help your blog listing get noticed.
Technorati Tags:
blogging on myspace com, myspace.com blogging, blogging, blog, what is blogging, how do I start blogging
Add this MySpace.com blogging tip to your Social Bookmarks
September 18, 2006
Your Business Blog Budget
So you've decided to outsource your business blogging. What can you expect to spend on it?
There are a few things you'll need to set up a quality business blog.
1. Domain name - one that reflects your business and helps branding. Cost: $10 to $15
2. Web hosting - if you wish, you can host it along with your business website, or put it on separate hosting. Cost: $30 per month.
3. Blog software - yes, you could go with free software to start with. Or you may want to use other kinds that involve licence fees. Cost: free to $350 one time
4. Blog design - Default templates of most blog platforms are ugly, and you want to modify the layout to match your site and brand your business. Cost: $100 or less
5. Blog content - If you hire outside writers to create your blog content, it could cost around $3 to $7 per 150-200 word post, depending on the nature of content you're looking for
6. Bloggers - If you hire people to post content to your blog on a regular basis and respond to posts on your business blog, you might have to factor in an extra amount for it.
In all, a good business blog running hands-free could cost you a few hundred dollars - but make your business many times more in return!
So get going on setting apart a business blog budget.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
Blogging for Business - How often should you post?
Like business, there are no rules in blogging for business.
Yes, there are good practices. Yes, there are guidelines. But no one will punish you if you post 4 times in an hour - or don't post to your business blog for a month.
So don't waste time worrying about it - or put off blogging for business just because you feel you can't meet some externally imposed 'deadline'.
Blog as often as you can. As frequently as you have time for. And whenever you have something useful to say.
Don't blog just for the sake of doing it - quality in your posts is important, as it consistency, rather than just frequent posts appearing on your business blog.
As a nice positive side-effect, if you post quality, relevant content, you'll attract the right kind of reader who learns something from your posts - and keeps coming back often.
And as every business owner knows, a business relationship often begins with trust-building efforts - which are now handled by your business blog.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
Blogging for Business Involves Influencing Readers
Are you blogging for business?
Well, then get ready to be an INFLUENCER.
Too many people blogging for business feel inhibited about trying to influence readers. They go out of their way to be 'neutral', providing 'balanced' views of whatever they are blogging about.
But think about what you'd do when discussing a product or service with a friend, face to face. Would you try and be deliberately neutral, regardless of whether you like the product or not?
Or would you be eloquently expressive if you like it - and vehemently angry if you don't?
Why, then, would you behave differently online, on your business blog?
And if you are blogging for business, and you think and believe that your business, your product, your service is GREAT (like you should), then why hide your brilliance under a haystack? Let it shine through in your blog posts - and influence your readers to believe it too.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
Blogging for Business - Blogroll or not?
Blogging for business is different in some respects from personal blogs.
The major factor is that while personal blogs are about getting readers to hear your point of view - and then directing them to many other related sites offering contrarian viewpoints or the 'full picture'... blogging for business is primarily focused on involving your visitor in your business.
Sure, you want to give them more information and a full perspective - but you preferably want to do it right there on your blog, so they are more likely to stick around and explore your blog and website than wander away.
That, and the fact you want your outbound links to point to your business websites rather than out into the World Wide Web... both for reasons of search engine optimization and retaining a prospect you invested time and money in acquiring.
Do you lose? Yes, to some extent. By linking your blog to others ('blogrolling'), you likely will get a link back (by getting on someone else's blog roll. And by refusing to have a blogroll, you might lose this chance.
But unless you are relying on blog links to drive all your traffic to your business blog, this may not be a serious setback - well compensated by the higher value of your blog's links that now point internally within your business websites.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
Blogging for Business - Must the owner blog?
Another 'illusion' that's been propagated around the blogosphere is that blogs have 'voices' - and those voices must be the owner's!
Well and true about personal blogs - but not at all regarding business blogs.
In a business blog, anyone could blog - and the voice is that of the business, not the owner or the person blogging for the business!
And that gives you a lot of latitude - because now, instead of sweating about creating your own blog content, you can take the lazy way out and use someone else's content, or even hire someone to blog for you.
What matters, however, is when you're blogging for business, the blog carries on a conversation with readers - and that conversation is relevant to your business. It could either showcase your product line and staff. Or it could help customers get more from your business. Or it could educate potential buyers about the value you offer.
To achieve this end, the blog owner does not need to blog... just make sure the right person with the right voice is blogging for business.
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
Blogging for Business - Should I 'Hard Sell'?
The quick answer - 'No'
The longer answer takes more understanding about blogs, readers and the nature of the blogosphere.
Blogs are about conversations. Ones you start and your readers continue. And those conversations on your business blog, naturally, would be best related to your business.
But what happens if you blatantly post sales pitch after sales pitch on your business blog?
It's the social equivalent of walking into a living room where people are having quiet conversations, and then launching into a full-throated sales pitch for your product or business!
How would you 'pitch' your business at a cocktail party? Maybe gently guide the chit chat around to a news story about your industry, or rake up a controversial issue related to it, or even more directly bring up the newest product you launched but talk about how a buyer found it helpful.
As the listener responds, with a remark, or question or comment, you either carry on the discussion - or change the topic.
Doing it online is the 'trick' to blogging for business. You cannot be 'in their face' - but you need to leave it 'in their mind'. And that's the challenge!
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
Blogging for Business - No Holds Barred
Here's a piece of hard-core business advice you can take to the bank.
"Ignore all advice about blogging that comes from a non-business owner"
Yes, that's for everyone blogging for business. Because the vast majority of bloggers are NOT doing this for business - they are doing it as a hobby, for fun, or to boost their own ego.
Blogging for business IS profitable, ROI-driven, productive activity - but only if you play it by the NEW rules - rules applicable only if you are blogging for business.
And rule #1 is that it is OK to think about blogging and profits in the same breath!
Traditional 'bloggers' will say blogging is purely about non-profit altruism. That's fine. But not if you own a business, are blogging for business growth, and need to meet payroll, pay off debt and grow your profits.
Blogging for business can help you get new prospects in your door. It can help you sell more product to your existing clients. It can help you extend support and after-sales service.
And all of these activities you do while you blog for business will be frowned upon by traditional 'bloggers'. Well, guess what? Let 'em frown - coz this is blogging for business... and no holds are barred!
Technorati Tags:
blogging, blog, what is blogging, blogging for business, business blog
MySpace com blogging - Making it pretty
Despite all the powerful features in MySpace.com including blogging, profiles, bulletin boards and built-in networking tools, it still turns off some purists.
And the reason is not hard to understand. MySpace.com sucks at design!
There's one bit of good news, though - the design is customizable. It is not easy, because the CSS stylesheets are pretty complex to work with. But Mike has written an amazing tutorial about it - AND given you ready-to-use code to boot.
So, does prettier MySpace.com blogging make it better? I don't know, yet. I just modified my profile on MySpace.com yesterday, and must say the new look does look nicer. And so, I may keep blogging there more often than I'd consider doing with an ugly interface design.
There are many ways to make your MySpace.com blogging site look pretty. There are some sites offering ready made layouts to replace the default ones with. But many of the layouts aren't really pretty.
So pick, choose and make your MySpace.com site pretty - and keep blogging away!
Technorati Tags:
blogging on myspace com, myspace.com blogging, blogging, blog, what is blogging, how do I start blogging
September 17, 2006
MySpace.com blogging - Keeping it safe
MySpace.com is a HUGE online network, a community of several MILLION people - which may be more than in your own home town.
The bad news is that every one of them now has access to your living room - your MySpace blog and homepage!
While it's 'cool' to share stuff with close friends (or people you hope will be your friends), it's not so cool when you realize the 'sweet guy' you've been chatting with online is in real life a perverted 'dirty old man' - or worse!
Myspace.com blogging can be risky, especially for teens who don't know as much about the seamy side of real life in the outside world. If you are a parent of a child doing MySpace.com blogging, you have a responsibility to help keep it safe.
Tell your teens (and practice this yourself) - never post personal details like pictures, names and addresses, schools, favorite malls, cell phone and phone numbers and such like on your MySpace.com blog