2010 August

We Did It!

August 31, 2010 By Angie 7 Comments

Hip Hip HOORAY! Today is Day 30 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge. I finally finished something I started. I believe I ended up with 32 or 33 posts this month. This was such a good exercise in accountability and perseverance.

This was my first experience with hashtags, and they have made my Twitter Life so much easier. Following almost 500 people makes it difficult to quickly find a relevant blog when I have a few moments to spare (even with lists). Having a hashtag stream set up with my fellow #blogboost friends meant I could start clicking through those links and find something of interest to read quickly. It has also allowed me to see ALL of my retweets and mentions, which is something that has never happened. For some reason, they never all show up.

I would love to keep networking with you all, and with you new visitors that may be reading this post. If you have a blog relevant to working at home, blogging, freelancing or online business, I invite you to start using the hashtag #wahw. This will ensure I can keep following along and networking with you all.

I will have a widget set up in the sidebar here to stream the hashtag updates. So, you will have yet another opportunity to have your little picture “up in lights” on my blog. Again, that is hashtag #wahw. We pronounce that “WOW!” around here, and I know you are.

My Blog Review on the Niche Blogger Packs

August 30, 2010 By Angie 7 Comments

Being a blogger is rough some days. There is so much to learn, incorporate, utilize and then you get to start all over with the next new thing. I am always looking for ways to simplify by blogging life, I do have another business to run ya know. When I find a good tool, I love to give my blog review. (That’s one more post done.) This one is for the niche blogger.

I have been looking at Susanne Myers’ Affiliate Niche Packs for a few months. They are inexpensive products, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to start another blog, incorporate one into this blog, would get my money’s worth out of it, could trust Susanne…As you can see, I’m full of excuses.

After watching the Keyword Research panel I discussed the other day, I felt a lot more confident. Susanne was one of the panelists. From their open discussion, I knew she had tools available to her that I haven’t yet purchased. I knew that she understood the niche blogger’s needs a lot more than I did. Most importantly, I knew she could analyze keyword research for the niche blogger more than I will probably ever be able to do. So, I bought one.

Do you wish your keyword research was already done for you?

I am impressed to say the least. These Affiliate Niche Packs have:

Instructions for setting up your new blog if that’s what you want to do
Ideas for domain names, if your goal is to set up a new blog
Analysis on over 1,000 keywords relevant to the niche
100 possible titles for posts and articles
Daily marketing strategies for both the beginning or advanced blogger (even extra credit)
Possible author resource boxes
Where to get relevant PLR for the niche (if you want to)
Other resources for bloggers

I am very impressed with the quality of this product, especially considering it was only $27. The eBook of information is 52 pages, there are two checklists with daily marketing tasks (beginner and advanced) and a worksheet with the keyword analysis (over 1,000 short and long-tailed keyword phrases, search volume, competition).

Are you looking for a product to not only get you started, but teach you the needed skills to continue?

One of the most important things I got from this product is what I was doing wrong. Susanne was an integral part of NAMS4 this year, and she will be a featured speaker at NAMS5. She knows what she is doing. With her Niche Affiliate Pack, I was able to see exactly what she looks for in keywords and how she analyzes them.

I have used a lot of SEO different methods with less-than-stellar results. This one finally “clicked” for me. I have also already seen results with using her method. I can go forward with my own keyword research with a lot more confidence. This was a bonus that I hadn’t expected when I purchased the product, finally grasping an effective method.

Are you looking for someone to trust?

I will definitely go back to Susanne for the niche blogger needs I have in the future. She only has a handful of Affiliate Niche Packs available right now, but has plans to add more. Pop over and see if their is a pack that you can utilize.

Her current offerings:

Getting Out Of Debt Affiliate Niche Pack

Blogging Affiliate Niche Pack

Crockpot Cooking Niche Pack

Weightloss and Diet Niche Pack

Fitness and Exercise Niche Pack

Dog Training and Care Niche Pack

Home Decor and Interior Design Niche Pack

Stress Panic and Anxiety Niche Pack

Pregnancy Niche Pack

SEO Niche Pack

It is a small but worthy investment. If you don’t see a relevant niche blogger pack available right now, please do get on her notification list for future releases here.

Filed Under: Blogging Advice, Online Business Tools Tagged With: affiliate niche packs, keyword research, my blog review, niche blogger, susanne myers, the niche blogger

Where the Blog Challenge Took Me

August 28, 2010 By Angie 8 Comments

We are getting ready to wrap up Ultimate Blog Challenge. I wasn’t sure if I could stick with it, but I did. I have accomplished a lot over the last month with the sense of accomplishment and motivation I found. I wanted to share where it has taken my blog personally and things I want to focus on going forward.

1. I wrote my second eBook that I had on the calendar to do two months ago. I have also started a third which I hope will be released to my subscribers in January.

2. I have been building a bigger and better list. This is an area I need to focus more on and I have just purchased a product from one of my “go-to marketers” that promises to make this happen.

3. I have been investing in products to better my blog and using them. It is a huge relief to finally have a better understanding of what I’m supposed to be doing. In turn, I’m more motivated to do it! (ie, SEO. I think I am finally going to master this bad boy!)

4. My traffic increased 86% last month, with 63% of that traffic being new followers. Now, I need to keep that momentum going.

5. I have met a lot of great bloggers that I hope will stick around when the challenge ends. I also hope to add a few more into my blogging inner circle.

6. I am over two weeks ahead in scheduled blog posts. It is a huge relief to not be playing “catch up” all the time. My blog can run on autopilot for awhile if something comes up. I want to keep going with this streak also.

7. I joined another challenge. Crazy, I know! But, I’m learning a lot more about the inner workings of the blog world and my readers. I want to do some more experimenting this next month to get a better gauge of things.

It has been a great learning and networking experience. If you haven’t participated in a blog challenge, be on the lookout. It is worth the time! If you participated, how did you do?

Filed Under: Blogging Advice Tagged With: blog challenge, ultimate blog challenge

List Building Advice: Scene 3

August 27, 2010 By Angie 3 Comments

On my goodie grabbing trips through NAMS4Kids this week, the topics that most of my free downloads have covered have been the elusive and mystical list building and traffic generation. This morning’s eBook of choice truly resonated with me. The author focused on list building advice to become a master. Mastering one method of list building at a time.

I think this is something that you can relate to. There are so many methods to get people on our lists and into our communities these days, you may be overwhelmed. Readers want to like you, follow you, be Networked, LinkedIn, subscribed and have a community. Some even want you to feed them! Oy!

You want to please the people, so you get all these things started. Even though you don’t know what half of them are. You turn around later and no one has joined any of them. What? They all wanted these things. So, you chalk it up to all of those networking avenues being a failure. It may never enter your mind that they aren’t effective because you don’t know how to use them properly.

“Jack of all trades, master of none.”

The author of said eBook suggests tackling list building and traffic one thing at a time. Do it until you understand, and do it until it is successful. Don’t move on to the next new method until this one is mastered. Aha!

I am guilty of shiny toy syndrome more often than not. I have forgotten what networks I’m a part of, where I have marketed my blog and signed up for things I have no clue what they are supposed to do or how to work them. But in my defense, it is because someone else told me to.

Focus is now on my To Do list for the coming months.

I have already gone back to the article directories and updated my resource boxes to reference my new download. Luckily, article marketing is something that worked relatively easily for me and continues to bring traffic.
I am in the process of going back and optimizing old posts for SEO with a better understanding of what I have been doing wrong. I have also spent some time doing keyword research for the future. I have a huge list already analyzed to refer to going forward for topics I cover frequently.
I’m going to focus some time on a few social networks to see where I can make changes to get them running and recruiting more effectively.

If you are running around in circles and nothing seems to be working, try doing the same. Find out what nifty traffic burner isn’t working, then observe those around you. What are they doing differently? What can you modify? Take the time to fix what is broken before you move on to something new.

Are you guilty of shiny toy syndrome? Tell me I’m not the only one.

Filed Under: Running an Online Business Tagged With: build a following, building an online following, list building, nams4kids, traffic

What Do You Mean I Own a Business Blogging?

August 26, 2010 By Angie 13 Comments

I saw a forum post the other day that obviously ruffled a lot of feathers. A recent news story on The Washington Examiner reported Philadelphia is now cracking down on blogs that earn money (and anyone else within city limits that is legitimately trying to make money without a license). If it generates any income, you need to have a business license. The privilege business license is $300 lifetime, or $50 annually. Needless to say, the bloggers are up in arms.

Warning: You may not like what I have to say in regards to this, but please read to the end as I explain.

If it makes any money, or is intended to make money, it is essentially a business. You have expenses, you market, you generate an income, you have a business. I see it no differently than a not-yet-successful corner store. It may take three years to turn a profit, but they need to be licensed regardless in the interim. They can’t open the doors to customers, but tell the government “Wait! We aren’t making a load of money yet, so we aren’t a business right now.” Why should blogging for income be treated differently?

However, I see a lot of bloggers readily admit they do not claim the income from their blogs. Since blogs generally earn money from numerous avenues, the blogger is unlikely to receive a 1099 for making more than $600 from any single entity. So they don’t report it. That’s against the law. Any income, even 2 cents, has to be reported to the IRS.

I also see review bloggers openly say they don’t report free products they receive for review for the same reason. They don’t receive a 1099, so they assume they can fly under the government’s radar. Also illegal, free products and swag received need to be reported like income.

Since the FTC started requiring blogs to be transparent in their relationships through disclosure, I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before other things started being monitored and mandated. Blogs have flew under the radar for quite some time. That was going to be noticed at some point.

There are a lot of different ways this may play out going forward. One thing that I do hope happens, you start treating your blog as the business that it is. Kick things up and make some money. You deserve it! Whether your blog earns through affiliate marketing, selling your product or promoting your services, take it seriously and turn a profit. You spend a lot of time on your blog. You put out great content. You entertain and inform the masses. Get paid!

One little blog post can generate an active or passive income for years to come. Let it. If you don’t want your blog to be a business, then don’t try to make it earn. You can’t play both sides of the fence, and no one forces us to put up ads or promote products.

Comments are always welcome, even if you don’t agree. But, please keep it clean.

Here is a link with more information on blogging and taxes if needed.

Filed Under: Blogging Advice, How to Make Money with a Blog Tagged With: blog business, businesses expenses, How to Make Money with a Blog, make money blogging, money making blog

SEO Blogging: Keyword Research from the Pros

August 25, 2010 By Angie Leave a Comment

Keyword research is what puts you between an online search and a product purchase. For the beginning marketer however, it can be overwhelming and confusing to the point where you just don’t do it. The fact of the matter is, Google is going to index your site anyway. If you don’t tell it for what, it will decide for itself. Take back control and learn SEO blogging through keyword research.

NAMS4 was this past weekend in Atlanta. This is where the best of the best and those that yearn to be the best congregate twice yearly to learn and share success. One of the hot topics for discussion this time around was how to do keyword research.

With hundreds of methods and keyword research tools available, you may be confused. You don’t have to be. I spent Sunday listening in from home on the expert panel for keyword research. Things I learned:

That not all tools are created equally
How to analyze the competition and possible conversion
The truth behind a lot of keyword research myths
How to understand the data you’re looking at

The main thing I learned: I now know what I have been doing wrong. I thought I had a good understanding, but I wasn’t getting very good results. Now I know why. I spent a good chunk of time yesterday doing keyword research and can see where I was going astray and what to do differently going forward.

I usually don’t invest in audio or video training, as I tend to prefer reading. However, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hear how some of the marketers I intently follow do their magic. I’m happy I did and won’t be so leery next time I see an audio panel discussion available.

The good news is, you can listen in on the keyword research 101 panel too! The experts include some of my favorite online people; Lynn Terry, Dan Morris, Susanne Myers and Karon Thackston.

This MP3 download:

delivers almost 90 minutes of focused discussion, tips and techniques for easy and practical keyword research.
breaks down complex keyword research ideas into manageable pieces.
explains the various research tools and how to choose the right one for you.
gives you an easy plan of action for finding the best keywords for use with websites, blog posts, articles, and social media.

The audio download is available for only $17. That equates to around $13/hr for this valuable information. When else will you get the opportunity to learn from 4 well-known experts for that price? Hop over, download your own copy and Learn SEO Blogging: Keyword Research from the Pros.

Filed Under: Online Business Tools Tagged With: do keyword research, keyword research 101, keyword research pro, keyword research tool, seo keyword research

Online Copywriting Course: Learn From the Pros

August 24, 2010 By Angie 1 Comment

With NAMS4 wrapping up on Monday, there have been a ton of good things flying into my inbox the last few days. One that truly sparked my interest is an online copywriting course titled, Online Copywriting 101.

This is an area I have planned to really start focusing on in the next couple of months. You can blog, write press releases and generate articles all day long, but if it is not effective online copywriting it is a waste of time. There are a few online copywriting course that I have invested in recently and will begin reviewing shortly. But with this one, the price is right and the names are amazing.

It runs September 1 – 10, 2010. They decided to broadcast each session free for 24 hours so as many people as possible could hear this vital information.

That’s almost $300 worth of expert teaching for absolutely nothing. No strings attached.

And their lineup has some of the biggest names in copywriting and content creation on the ‘Net including:

Kevin Hogan on the Science of Persuasion
Michel Fortin on Sales Letters 2.0
Lynn Terry on Blogging (a personal favorite)
Jeff Herring on Article Writing
Shannon Cherry on Press Release Writing
Brian Massey on Landing Page Creation

and

Karon Thackston on Knowing Your Target Audience, Basics of Online Copywriting, Headline Creation and SEO Copywriting

You can see the complete schedule on the website. But that covers just about everything you’ll need to know to get started writing online copy like a pro.

Click here for your pass to this free online copywriting course, Online Copywriting 101. Below is a video if you would like to learn more.

Filed Under: Online Business Tools Tagged With: online content writing, online copywriting, online copywriting course, online writing, writing for the web

The Best Marketers to Follow

August 23, 2010 By Angie 4 Comments

Last week when I announced the release of my new report, The Little Guy’s Guide to Affiliate Marketing, I had a comment asking me to recommend the best marketers to follow for someone just getting started in affiliate marketing. I give a rundown in my report, but I also think there are a few to mention here.

I know you’re thinking, “This doesn’t pertain to me. I don’t want to get involved in affiliate marketing.” But, it does pertain to you. (And you’ll likely want to become an affiliate for at least one amazing product someday)

If you have an online business, you need to be an Internet Marketer. You are marketing your business. You are marketing yourself. You are marketing your products. You are marketing your brand. You are your own Super Affiliate.

These are people I was following before I even started this blog. I was using their tactics when I had only my Virtual Assistant business. I took what they had to say and modified it to fit my business needs. Here is the shortlist to amping up your online marketing.

Lynn Terry – Self-Starter Weekly Tips Forum

Nicole Dean

There’s my shortlist of the best marketers to follow. Who’s on your list?

Filed Under: Online Business Tools Tagged With: affiliate marketing, best marketers, internet marketing, little guy's guide to affiliate marketing, online marketing