The Importance of Online Qualitative Research
As online writers, we have a vision of our reader or website visitor before we ever put our fingers to the keyboard. Researching our reader’s behavior and satisfaction can greatly increase our success.
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Successful Web Writing Through Qualitative Observations – AC
July 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Twitter Klout: What It is and How to Increase It – AC
July 27, 2010 By 1 Comment
Twitter Klout: What it is and How to Increase It
Klout.com has been around since 2008. Its recent integration into the HootSuite platform has the Twitter world buzzing with what these mysterious numbers mean and how to increase Twitter Klout.
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Blog Writing Tips
July 22, 2010 By 7 Comments
Every so often, I catch myself doing something less-than-stellar on my blog. I may knowingly do it and refuse to change it because of laziness. I may have an AHA moment when I see a tweet or facebook update with something I hadn’t realized was annoying to blog readers. This is my little reminder list of blog writing tips.
Thesaurus
The Thesaurus is a writer’s best friend, even blog writers. If you find yourself using the same word repeatedly, take two seconds to find an alternative. You can even do an online search if you no longer have one lying around.
Open Links in a New Window
I used to think this was a personal pet peeve until I saw a discussion on Mommy Perks Facebook wall. Always set your in-text links to open in a new window. Readers often click links as they see them, but may not be ready to leave your blog yet.
SEO
This, for me, is often a matter of laziness and an essential blog writing tip. I won’t feel like taking two minutes to find keywords, so I don’t. A few days later I will check my stats and see previous posts getting amazing search engine traffic and wish I hadn’t been so lazy with others. It only takes a few minutes and is very well worth it. If you need SEO tips, here’s the method I use: SEO Article Writing: A How-To.
Double-Check Your Links
Take a minute to preview your post and click those in-text links. Don’t wait for a reader to inform you of a broken one, they may not. This also only takes a second.
What is on your blog writing tips reminder list for those lazy moments? What’s your lazy blogger pet peeves?
Staying Afloat During Seasonal Downtime: AC Article
July 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Online Business: Staying Afloat During Seasonal Downtime
Most online businesses experience an ebb and flow throughout the year. Your clients’ or customers’ needs may fluctuate from season to season. How do you maintain balance during online business seasonal downtime?
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Personality Traits of Successful Business Owners
July 17, 2010 By 5 Comments
I’m crazy. I am well aware of that and will not dispute that point. I have a lot “quirks” that most people find annoying, but that’s how I roll. I have attributed my entrepreneurial spirit to these mental tics from Day One. Many non-business owners (and unsuccessful business owners) think I’m only trying to make my insanity acceptable, but apparently I’m not the only one.
This morning as I was reading Lynn Terry’s blog, she was explaining her online absence. As she told her story, she shared her secret: she’s got an obsessive personality also. She too gives her “issues” props for her online success. This can’t possibly be a coincidence…
She struggles, as I do, with lack of moderation. I’m an all or nothing kind of girl. I won’t do anything that I can’t do full blown and at full speed. I do not tolerate lackadaisical attitudes at all, and that’s one of the reasons I struggled so much in the corporate world. If something needs done, let’s do it! I don’t want to have a meeting about it, spend two days planning, have a few luncheons, talk about it some more…UGH!
When people ask me what traits are needed to become a successful online business owner, it’s hard not to say “you need to bit a tad nutty.” But, maybe you do.
When an obsessive moment hits, I can easily go two days on two hours of sleep. (with coffee, of course) I have been known to get tired of waiting for my husband to tear up the nasty carpet and start doing it myself while he isn’t looking. If something needs done, I am up at the crack of dawn knocking it out before most people roll out of bed.
If you are a business owner, do you feel it is attributed to some undiagnosed mental defect? Do we have to be a little crazy to leave security and stability behind to pave our own road?
How to Start a Review Blog
July 12, 2010 By 4 Comments
Who doesn’t want to start a review blog? Who doesn’t want free stuff? I see several times a week on forums, new bloggers asking where to start. Several times a week I see the same sites mentioned over and over.
What do I have against those sites? For starters, lack of original reviews. When many of the big companies introduce a new product, they solicit hundreds (if not thousands) of bloggers to review the product at the same time. There’s a good chance your review may get lost in the shuffle. Have you ever visited a giveaway linkup on a blog and seen the same giveaway on 15 different blogs? There’s a good chance they all belong to the same PR site.
Reason Number 2: Kraft isn’t very likely to share in the profit your blog review brings in. 
However, many of the smaller online businesses without huge PR connections might. Why not continue to reap benefits from that review that will be on your blog for eternity?
I have talked about Robb Sutton before in my blog. He’s a big blog influence to me and he has not only his “blogger blog,” but he also runs a couple very successful review blogs. Is he reviewing the newest frozen pizza? Absolutely not. His blogs are centered around his passions and those are the products he reviews.
Anyway, that brings me to today’s topic and recommended book. Ramped Reviews is an amazing book for bloggers looking to get into reviews. Robb lays it all on the line, telling us each step in the process from asking for what you want to finishing up lose ends when your review is complete.
Why is he one of my favorites? No added junk. In all of Robb’s ebooks I have read, he gets down to business. He doesn’t ramble on with useless information. You are in, out and on your way with what you need to know. (Did I mention he gives you free sample letters for contacting companies in here? He does.)
Get over there and download a copy of Ramped Reviews if you’re looking to take the road less traveled. Personally, I think it is way under-priced for what you get in return. That’s just me though.
Happy Reviewing!
How Do I Get Free Publicity?
July 9, 2010 By 4 Comments
We all start online businesses for one purpose: to make money. In order to make money, we need to bring in clients or customers. In order to get clients or customers, we need to get our name out there. But how? What if you are starting without a bundle of cash for advertising? The answer: Get Free Publicity.
It has been almost 3 years since I started my Virtual Assistant business, so occasionally these little gems slip my mind until I get a reminder. Another freelancer emailed me this week to let me know there was a call on HARO for Virtual Assistants and their experience with social media. Duh! I forgot all about this one. I have used it for clients to gain exposure in the past, but (luckily) as time has gone by I do a lot less advertising for myself as referrals roll in.
HARO, Help A Reporter Out, is a website that brings together reporters, bloggers and journalists with small business owners. They post their needs, which are then broadcast to members to respond to. Their calls detail the information and experience they are looking for, and you can contact the reporter directly with your story.
I have always felt like a cheeseball trying to write a third-person press release about myself, so HARO provides a great alternative to me. I also feel there is a better return to be had from the numerous online avenues these stories show up in, as opposed to the free press release sites that everyone is submitting to. Also, there is a better chance to make a connection to the reader than a press release. You are writing in your own voice, telling your own story.
HARO sends out three emails a day Monday through Friday with requests. (No spam, only requests) There is no charge to get signed up. Word has it changes are in the works to make notifications more targeted, but you never know what you may find and who you may be able to connect with.
We are all aware of free social marketing through Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, but frankly sometimes it may feel like you are chasing your tail. You are spending a lot of time and possibly without much of a return. Don’t fret, there are other options out there to get free online publicity. Get signed up with HARO and see what you can find. They also send out immediate calls through twitter, @helpareporter.
Let me know if you have used HARO. I’d love to hear your story!
2 More Must Have WordPress Plugins
July 5, 2010 By 7 Comments
I have mentioned it before, I am a sucker for a good WordPress plugin. They make blogging life so much simpler. They can add amazing features and interactive capabilities to your blog. Over the last few weeks I have come across a couple more must have WordPress plugins.
1. Redirection - If you include affiliate links in your blog, after awhile you have them here, there, everywhere. They are in your ebooks, reports, blog posts. What happens when an affiliate program goes dead? What if your link changes? Are you going to know everywhere that you have that link? How long will it take you to update in those places?
I have looked around for quite some time to find a plugin that would make the nice www.yourblog.com/recommendsthisthing. I have found them, but most are paid plugins. I’m a cheapskate. I knew there had to be a free one out there. Redirection is a free one.
You tell it what pretty name you want it to display. You use that link instead of the messy, mile-long affiliate link. It tells you how many people click it and if it should go dead. Then, you only need to update it to the new link and it is all taken care of for you. Amazing!
Another plus, if someone asks for a recommendation you can ramble this off (or type it, tweet it, etc) off the top of your head. You don’t have to go looking it up, copying and pasting, etc.
2. Facebook Like Button – I have said time and time again how important it is that your readers are able to share your posts with the click of a button. If they have to copy and paste, go somewhere else, do this-that-and-the-other, they probably won’t. As readers, we want to be able to click one button and have everything taken care of for us.
This plugin adds the little “thumbs up” button to your blog posts and your readers can start clicking away.
Those are my two favorites for today. Do you have a must have plugin I need to get? Feel free to share!
Let’s Network!