“Six People Who Can Ease the Blogger’s Burden” plus 1 more |  |
| Six People Who Can Ease the Blogger’s Burden Posted: 13 Jun 2012 01:06 PM PDT This guest post is by John Preston of My Family Finances. Have you ever tried to explain to someone how to blog successfully? I have yet to find a satisfactory synopsis of the complicated juggling act that fellow bloggers have trained themselves to perform. I do know that somewhere in the nexus of critical roles bloggers navigate, there is networking. Some bloggers have no trouble contacting others and reaching out. For many others, networking doesn't come easy. It's like a chore that we know must be completed, but we never really feel comfortable performing. Regardless of skill, talent or effort, even the most outgoing bloggers can make mistakes in social networking if they aren't careful. Successfully leveraging a network actually requires a little strategy and understanding of how others can impact our own success. That's why there are six bloggers that everyone should get to know. How many blogging friends is too many?19! No, seriously. That's according to the findings of research on social networks from the Harvard School of Business. The optimal number of contacts in your social web is between 12 and 18. If you have more, you are likely to spend too much time managing friends. If you have a smaller number, you are likely to be missing contacts that play critical roles in an effective network. Take the study with a grain of salt, of course. Don't de-friend someone because you list 19 people. However, be cognizant that too many contacts is self-defeating, while having too little is an indication that your network could improve. The quality of our social networks isn't only affected by the size of the group, but by the roles people play within the network. Think about your own network; there are those with whom we are willing to share our secrets, but we’d never want to team up on a project with them. Then there are others we'd never confide in, even though we work well together with them. Over the last three years I've found six types of bloggers that have positively impacted my social network. Perhaps you can see similarities between these and your own connections. Development contacts: coaches and disciplesCoachesFinding a coach is a key network accomplishment for new bloggers. Coaches know and understand the blogging basics. They'll help you navigate your first few months and direct you to smart decisions that will grow your site much faster than if you were on your own. You feel comfortable acting on their queues and trust their advice. Best of all, you get expert advice for free. Take care with coaches: Make sure that you are learning from your coaches and not just mimicking them. It's easy to get into a situation where you make yourself a follower instead of a disciple. Embrace the coaches philosophies when they are winners, but look for areas to improve on, and don't box yourself into a rigid formula. DisciplesYou aren't a master if you lack an apprentice. If you are good enough, bloggers will gravitate to you and want to learn how you achieved what you've achieved. Sure the flattery is motivating, but disciples also play a key role in the development of blogging coaches. Disciples force coaches to reconnect with the basics. They'll have to simplify and prioritize the knowledge they've learned over the years. As a result, coaches find themselves rethinking and refining their own strategies that have become mundane or overused. Take care with disciples: In general, a disciple is worth the investment, but you can't let them dominate and stagnate your own progress. You are in an unhealthy partnership if your blog-fu lessons impede your own development. Teamwork contacts: collaborators and confidantsCollaboratorsIf Forest Gump was your collaborator, you'd be Bubba. It's lonely in the blogosphere if you don't have a fellow blogger in the trenches with you. You need someone to share your current experiences, and relate with your immediate situation—whether it's newer writers finding the time to write posts, or veterans griping about seasonally slow traffic. Collaborators are your sounding board for your innovative ideas, offering encouragement and constructive criticism. They cover for you when you go on vacation. When they have a project, you're first on the list for help. Take care with collaborators: You need trustworthy collaborators that won't use your confidences for personal gain. It's also helpful to find a few collaborators, because blog friends can easily fill their schedule and become unavailable. ConfidantsThe best part about confidants? They don't have to be bloggers. They can be your spouse, child, or co-worker. These folks don't always have to know what you are talking about. SEO could be a band name for all they know. However, they are detached and impartial and that's why they are so helpful. You feel like you can be honest with them about the good and the bad that comes with blogging. Overall, they are great sounding boards for your blogging ambitions. These contacts are people from outside your usual blog network, who anchor you to life or other spheres. They provide you an outlet to unload, but may also inspire you to think out of the box. Take care with confidants: This is a potentially dangerous category, and you need to be careful that you are finding the right people to fill this role. Focus on finding people who leave you feeling positive. The wrong confidant is someone who engages you in constant gossip and backbiting. The occasional gripe is healthy, but avoid those who are trying to continue their teenage vices. Inspirational contacts: heroes and fansHeroesThey probably don't know that you exist, but your insignificance isn't a requirement for the role. Heroes are low-contact resources, who are masters of blogging. They are everything that you wish you could be, and you read everything they write. One reason is because you enjoy them, but you also are searching for the knack—the formula of success that they have and you want. Take care with heroes: Trying to match their success often leads us to failure and disappointment. Sometimes our heroes fall from grace and we are left repenting over our past adulation. Heroes have as much capability to discourage you as they do to inspire. FansIf you've been writing for a long time and have yet to find a fan, this may be an indication that you need to rethink your blog. Fans are the people who follow your writing and comment on every post. Sometimes, you don't know where they came from or why they come back, but the fact that they are there motivates you. They can keep you posting regularly and influence your content, because you know that you don't want to let them down. Take care with fans: Sometimes you have to change things up, and even though it might be the right move, you may risk losing your fan. Often it is wise to let your readership dictate your writing topics, but writing to please a limited few can leave you stagnating in your development. You'll find that some people in your network fill multiple roles. You'll also discover that people might trade or jump into new roles. The important thing is that you are diversified and the people who are assigned to these six roles have a positive effect on your writing. Are these six people part of your life?I’m fortunate to have people in each of these six categories within my network. But what about you? Does your network represent all six categories, or do you need to diversify? John Preston runs the My Family Finances blog at http://myfamilyfinances.net/. You can follow his latest writing by subscribing to his blog feed at http://feeds.feedburner.com/myfamilyfinances/rgbo. He is also a weekly contributor for US News & World Reports' My Money blog. Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger Six People Who Can Ease the Blogger’s Burden     |
| 7 Powerful Ways to Promote Your Blog Offline Posted: 13 Jun 2012 07:03 AM PDT This guest post is by Jennifer Michelle of Jennifer Michelle Communications. Online marketing is a great way to grow your blog—but it's not the only way. Traditional marketing methods can also be used to promote your blog and develop your readership. Here are seven ideas to get you started. 1. Get in the pressIn the world of professional blogging, so much emphasis is placed on guest posting that it can be easy to overlook its predecessor—traditional media. Yes, you can reach a large audience with a well-placed guest post, but you can do the same with an article in your local newspaper. Call the editor and offer to write an article for them, in exchange for a mention of your website in your byline. "But wait," I can hear you saying, "if they read me in the paper they won't be able to click and visit my site." That's right, but they can type it into their smartphone or look you up when they get to the office. Instant clickability isn't always the goal—strive for memorability, instead. When you write a solid piece for the press, you are instantly perceived as an expert. If your article is any good (and your blogging experience gives you the writing ability to ensure that it will be), people will remember it—and they'll keep you in mind. Media isn't just print, though. Not by a long shot. Try radio. There are thousands of talk shows out there in the offline world. Research them. Search on talk radio shows in your topic area and pitch yourself as a guest. Do the same with magazines and television—offer your services as a source, an author, or a guest to be interviewed. This is, in fact, the tactic I employed when starting my latest blog, Jennifer Michelle Communications. I contacted my state newspaper to pitch the topic, "Websites on a Shoestring," and spoke with the business editor. He suggested I send him an article to review. That piece will be appearing in print next month. I had similar success with talk radio. Using my years of blogging to craft a great headline, I made a quick ad on my topic and emailed it to several talk radio show producers. The ad consisted of a headline, a bulleted list of tantalizingly-written talking points, my credentials, and contact information. The result? Biz Talk with Josh, a CBS station in the Washington, DC region, contacted me to have me as back up for a guest that seemed poised to do a no-show. When, as it turned out, they didn't need me, they rescheduled me for July. That kind of thing happens a lot when you’re working with the media, so always tell producers and reporters that they can call you at the last minute. 2. Teach a classI know you're used to thinking in terms of webinars, but I mean an actual class. Take a minute to review your most popular posts. The odds are they could convert easily into intriguing class topics. Or consider your subject as a whole and teach a class relating to that. Sensual University does this with yoga and dance classes. Her message is all about the beauty and sensuality of life (a huge and varied subject in itself), but it's through her yoga and dance classes that she pulls in new readers. When her students discover her unique, sensual approach to movement, they are eager to find out more. The trick is to find the right venue for your topic—and your schedule. Ask yourself, are you able to teach a ten-week course or are you looking to do a one-off? Do you want to give a half-day seminar or are you thinking you'll only need an hour? Community colleges are frequently looking for new classes, so if you're up for a longer time commitment, give them a call. Just want to teach for an hour or two? Then see who offers workshops in your area. Libraries are a great place to start, as they often have lecture series. Or try the Rotary club and get on their calendar. Depending on your niche, there may be quite a lot of possibilities. For instance, if you blog on cooking, you may be able to teach a class at the local health food store. Whatever you do, give your students print-outs of one or two of your most relevant posts—and be sure it gives your website and contact information. 3. Give an awardThere's nothing like staging an event to attract attention. Better still, when the event is an award that you are presenting, you are instantly considered an authority in your field. There are lots of ways to go about this. You can take nominations or simply name a winner. You can announce it with a press release, or throw a big bash. You want the award to represent your brand—ideally, it will become an annual event—so choose wisely. Make it something with broad appeal in your niche, yet something that’s intriguing enough to attract some attention. Cupcakes Take the Cake has launched a new award this year honoring the best professional and amateur cupcake bakers. They even have a category for best cupcake video! What could be more fun than that? The press possibilities are endless—just think of how many local newspapers will be thrilled to print that one of their local bakers won Best Cupcake Baker in their city! Every time they mention the award, they'll mention who presented it—and that spreads the word about your blog. 4. Hand out your business cardIt's amazing how often bloggers will overlook the need for business cards, especially if their topic has limited relevance in their locale. The thing to remember, though, is that you never know who you are going to meet—and you never know who they will know. There's also just something about having your business card in hand that makes you suddenly see thousands of opportunities for telling people about your blog. When you design your card, be sure to include your logo, tagline, and all your contact information. For more, see this article about what to put on a blogger business card. And if you want some great examples, check out MomComm's blogger business card showcase. Attend a conference for pro bloggersSometimes your online and offline worlds converge beautifully—and never moreso than at a conference dedicated to the needs of professional bloggers. Email isn't the only way to get a gig guest posting on your favorite blog. How about raising the possibility over drinks at a cocktail party? Or what about going out to lunch with your favorite bloggers and brainstorming ways you could work together? Just because the end goal is an online event doesn't mean offline marketing strategies aren't the best way to get you there. That's what blogger conventions are all about—forging networks and creating partnerships (not to mention making some great friends). Your goal offline should be the same as your goal online: to be as helpful and useful as possible in whatever partnership idea you propose. Help your fellow bloggers get where they want to go and they'll be sure to remember you—and want to work with you again. While you're networking, be careful not to focus too heavily on the most famous bloggers in your niche. Partnering with mid-level bloggers is not to be ignored—they have devoted subscriber lists, too. SXSW and Blog World Expo are two of the biggest blog events, and of course there’s also the Melbourne ProBlogger Event. General blogging events aren't the only way to go, either, so spend some time searching for events targeting bloggers in your niche, like this Wine Bloggers Conference. 6. Attend a conference that’s not targeted to bloggersIf you want to find your readers, niche conferences are the place to look. They are also an amazing source for new ideas. A couple of days talking with your target demographic and you'll walk away with a list of new blog posts you can't wait t to write and a bunch of new product ideas you want to get cracking on. You'll also be exposed to the latest trends in your field—and get to see firsthand people's responses to them. These conferences are filled with workshops and speakers, all of whom are potential partners. There is also, needless to say, the possibility of you being one of the presenters. That's what Jesse Friedman of Beer & Nosh did at the Craft Brewers Conference. Since organizers need months to pull these events together, make a point of meeting with them and get on their radar for next year. 7. Donate prizesPeople who put on events are always on the hunt for door prizes, enclosures for gift bags, and donations for silent auctions. Moreover, as a prize contributor, you will be listed in the program and the website, and may even be mentioned in event press releases. This is a technique I've used numerous times to promote PoleSkivvies, the niche sports apparel brand I launched with only a blog and a newsletter. I've donated prizes to pole fitness championships from New York to New Zealand and I've even donated beyond my immediate niche, giving prizes to silent auctions that were fundraising for other dance styles. One word of caution: I wouldn't count on the prize winner becoming a devoted reader or customer. They will surely enjoy their prize, but the impact from this marketing tactic has more to do with brand recognition. You want people to know you're out there. That means it's important to put some thought into what you donate. A copy of your ebook, a consulting package, or a video course are all possibilities. Look over your product list and see what would be the most intriguing. However, don't donate something you give away free on your website. Event organizers like to list the value of prizes to increase people's excitement about winning, so get in the spirit and donate something meaningful. If you can, attend the event. There's nothing like mentioning you donated the door prize to strike up a conversation and get people talking about you and your blog. Bonus tipAn easy way to get people you meet in the offline world to visit your blog is to put a QR code on everything you pass out. From copies of your blog posts to business cards, include a QR code to some of your most popular posts or product pages, as well as your URL. Smartphones are everywhere these days, and most of them have apps for reading QR codes—make use of them. Have you tried offline promotions?Running a professional blog doesn't mean you should forget about time-honored methods of traditional marketing. Incorporate them into your overall strategy and your blog will be the stronger for it. Have you promoted your blog offline? Tell us how it went in the comments! Jennifer Michelle built a niche sportswear company from the ground up using just a blog and a newsletter. She now helps small business owners bridge the gap between their own online and offline marketing. Check out her tips on 21 Ways to Market Your Blog Offline. Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger 7 Powerful Ways to Promote Your Blog Offline     |
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