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I remember the first time that I used the search engines to look for quality information on marketing blogs. It didn’t go well, and I found myself directing a lot of my marketing from a narrow and slightly biased source.

After learning a lesson, I started to bookmark the posts I came across to use as resources and motivation. I’ve had these posts archived for reference, a large part of my blogging knowledge base aside from a few memories and a bit of experience.

So for those of you who are looking to improve your blog, empower and enlighten your readers – here’s my favourite articles on blog marketing:

The Top 5 Articles on Blog Marketing

1. How To Market Your Blog In 2007, by Tony Hung

This is definitely one of my favourites as it provides not only relevant and effective techniques – but in addition it is one of the most comprehensive articles you’ll ever find for free.

2. 25 Tips for Marketing Your Blog, by Lee Odden

If the first article left anything to question then Lee Odden has likely covered it through the excellent 25-point guide. I like to use these as a checklist (with a few changes), when launching a new blog for myself or a client.

3. Top bloggers reveal how to build traffic off-blog without spending a dime, by Jonathan Fields

This is an inspiration article because the author has interviewed numerous prominent bloggers to ask them their single favourite, low budget, blog marketing method. The article contains the opinions of over 14 influential bloggers including Cory Miller and Darren Rowse.

4. 8 Tips to More Effective Blogging, by Jolina of TopRankBlog.com

This is my quick fix when I need some blog marketing motivation. A quick guide that’s simple layout always helps me put my own work in perspective.

5. Top 10 Ways to Drive Traffic to a New Blog, by Miguel Alvarez

I’ve always been a fan of copywriting, well at least since the time I learned about how it can be used effectively. Miguel Alvarez writes many inspiration posts on copywriting and this is one of my favourites from the CopyWriting.com blog. This is not a post on copywriting a blog, just a great resource on marketing one – written by a copywriter (so you know it’s good).

These are the top five articles I use for reference and now you’re welcome to use them yourself. I’ll be following the marketing of blogs in my 5 part series, The Blog Bloodlines – compiling a complete guide and list of resources for marketing your own blog.  Now that I’ve shown you the standard, my job will to be make an even more useful reference - an all-in-one guide to blog marketing.

Blogs are a great way to network, and any marketer or business builder that plans to build an online presence, needs to know a thing or two about blogs. Good luck blogging.

Cheers,
Kris

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Internet Marketing is constantly changing.  Now, the internet is used by everyone – not just the tech and computer savvy.  Every day barriers are broken and our succinct communication has truly rendered the globe as more of a “virtual community.”

After the introduction of Web 2.0, an army of social networking mediums took the net by storm and while some were swept under the rug for eternity, most of us can generally recall a number of the popular ones that held.  Did you ever have a MySpace? How about a Facebook profile? For those of you who have been networking on the net for a while – you’ve likely heard of Twitter.

Twitter is the next generation of social networking tools.  The unique system limits users to a 140 character update field – to share their trials and tribulations.  Over the past year, Twitter “tweets” (the short updates) have captured the attention of internet marketers and any company with an online presence.

I Just Don’t Get It. One-Hundred and Forty Characters Can’t Mean Many Words… So How Could it be a Sensational Marketing Tool?

A short and sweet tweet that’s right to the point.  That’s as good as it gets for some business communication.  It never hurts to perfect your elevator pitching skills, or in this case “Microwriting Skills” as Miguel Alvarez defines it in his latest post on copywriting for twitter.  At many times in life you won’t get more than a few words or minutes to pitch even your most brilliant ideas to busy prospects.

To dig a little deeper into theory: if you we’re short on time, if you had lot’s to do, or if you simply don’t like reading all the mindless jabber – then why wouldn’t you manage your online network through twitter?  Get all info, news, thoughts and opinions in 140 characters or less.

That’s why Twitter is growing, and why it will continue to grow.

The Top 10 Ways to Make Your Next Tweets Pack a Punch with Your Prospects

For anyone who is unfamiliar with copywriting, I recommend you learn at least the basics here: Copywriting Basics.  One thing I learned from copywriting is how to meet prospects on different levels and connect with more than their eyes – but also their hearts and minds.

You can apply this to Twitter in several ways, and understanding the art (or arguably science) of copywriting will benefit the Twitter user with ever tweet.  When copywriting on Twitter, or Microwriting, you need to think of a couple things:

First, Why are you here? Is it because you want to market or promote something, meet knowledgeable people, or maybe you want to make new friends?

Second, If you are trying to market something, including yourself – keep in mind the reasons above.  Why? It’s because you had a reason to join, and so did they.

Now that you’ve put some thought it, let me share my list of methods for connecting with these different prospects.  I’ve broken the methods into three categories reflecting the type of Twitter user you’re targeting.

Comparing – Targeting the curious and concerned.
1. Cliffhangers – Leave something unfinished, and an invitation for your prospects to finish it.
2. Theories and Philosophies – Open up a new idea or perspective to promote feedback.
3. News and Current Events – Spur discussion on popular news, and share in the buzz.
4. Topical Commenting – Have an educated opinion? Why not share it and start a discussion?

Sharing – Targeting the powerful emotion of greed and a need for self-actualization.
5. Free Information and Tools – Offer something of value that helps prospects better something in their own lives or careers.
6. Relevant Articles – Are you a marketer? A florist? A carpenter or tradesperson?  Share relevant articles in your niche that provide insight and knowledge to your prospects.
7. Value by Association – We all remember high school.  If someone was sitting at the popular table (regardless of discussion) they were generally deemed of popular status, right?  Now apply this concept to Twitter, if you happen to be networked with valuable contacts, then you suddenly become “popular” and create some value in networking with you.

Caring – Targeting the social needs and a need to reciprocate.
8. Tweet Personalization – Everyone loves seeing their own name, so connect with them by personalizing your tweets to include comments referring to your followers or prospects.
9. Direct Questions – Ask questions directly to your followers or prospects, ones that aren’t easily answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and that promote thought as opposed to automatic response.
10. Network Building – Do you know two people who you think would like to meet, or have something interesting in common to talk about?  Introduce them and you’ll promote overall readership.

Every tweet is like a very short blog post, with a significant difference in the amount of space you have to capture the interest of your prospects.  So make use of it, don’t waste a single tweet and if you want to ever effectively use Twitter – then put some more effort the quality of your tweets, and less into the quantity.

Finally, I Know How to Tweet! But Wait a Minute, Isn’t This Useless If You Have No Followers on Twitter?

Self-improvement is never useless, but in regards to twitter – your tweets do have a good chance of going unnoticed unless you have some friends and followers.  The common goal of most twitter users is to build their network of followers and with the use of Microwriting, and the Twitter strategies above – you’re network will grow quickly.  However, you do need to give it a helping hand to get off the ground.

The Secret Strategy to Sky-Rocket Your Twitter Following:
Start by following a small group of prominent and related Twitter users

For those of you thinking about starting your Twitter network, that’s your useful tip of the day.  Find prominent Twitter users that you might know; perhaps your favourite blog authors, or maybe someone specializing in your niche.  When you follow these users, reply and comment on their tweets and their entire network can see your comment. In addition, you get a direct link to your profile.

So whether you’re a blogger or a builder you shouldn’t pass up the chance to expand your horizons online with Twitter.  Remember, every success isn’t a step – but a journey.

Regards,

Kris Scheben-Edey

Don’t forget to add me on Twitter! Click Here for my profile.

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Niche Marketing: And Why You Need To Know How To Use It To Your Benefit

You could spend hours, or even months bringing traffic to your website and yet you aren’t making much money.  You can generate lots of traffic with the optimization you’ve done… but they just don’t seem interested in what you have to offer.  Well, it’s time to learn why.

Want to Know Why I’m Not Interested in What You Have?

Put yourself in the shoes - or in this case the computer chair – of one of your prospects.  You’re clearly searching for something, and maybe you found this site after looking at countless others to no avail, or maybe you followed a network of links here.  Either way, you’re there – but what is going to make you want to reach for your wallet – or subscribe to the newsletter?

That is what’s missing - a persuasion to act.  You could have a thousand visitors but if there if the value in your offers are not properly communicated, then you have little chance of making a single sale.

Want to Turn Clicks Into Clients? Here’s the Key to Converting Your Prospects!

You need to communicate value in your offers, provide incentives and guarantees.  You can connect with your prospects through stories or by connecting to their emotions of greed and passion.

It sounds like a lot, but you can achieve all of these goals, and you can learn how to really connect with your prospects and convert their slight interest into a bigger bottom line.  The first thing you’ll need to do is get familiar with copywriting.

Below are my favourite 5 copywriting articles and resources – the ones I had bookmarked for 2008 and constantly found myself using:

SEO Unique Blog
This article is a great checklist when developing any website.  It’s my quick fix for SEO Copywriting, and it’s a great article containing “20 SEO Copywriting Hints.”

Marketing Words Blog
The Marketing Words blog is a great copywriting resource, with regular posts and an excellent knowledge base.  Lots of information can be found here, just try not to spend all day reading and make sure you put the pen the paper once or twice for good measure.

CopyBlogger
I regularly check here for updates, in addition to a comprehensive archive of articles on SEO copywriting.  Follow this link and check out their “10 Step Copywriting Tutorial” a great guide designed to get you up and running with the basics of writing great copy in ten easy lessons.

Clayton Makepeace Blog
This is my favourite copywriting resource, hands down.  With almost daily articles you can bookmark this one with ease, because the knowledge in every article is based on the success of some of the top copywriters in the world.  Find thrilling articles written by the likes of Clayton Makepeace, Daniel Levis, Julie McManus, and over 20 other successful copywriters.   This is a must have for any business builder.

Copywriting.com
I remember the first day I learned about copywriting.  I spent hours on Copywriting.com just browsing the beginner’s articles, the blog posts and the excellent copywriting resources.  At the end of that day, I was inspired, and I recommend that anyone who likes to be inspired read the works of Miguel Alvarez here on Copywriting.com.  Another must have resource for your online business builders.

It would take months to read all of those articles, but the key is practice.  Learn something new, apply it and learn how to master it – then move on to the next thing.  First, you learn how to get the traffic, and now it’s time to learn how to convert it.

At many times content is king, and copywriting your content would be the ace.  Check back soon for an article on how a mother and real-estate agents – with no technology background – built a first page blog.  Until next time, enjoy converting your traffic!

Regards,

Kris Scheben-Edey

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