Small Business Blogging Blueprint eBook

Small Business Blogging Blueprint e-book
by: Kelly Watson

I’d like to create a business blog, but I don’t know where to start.”
“I don’t have the technical skills to build a blog.”
“I have a business blog, but it doesn’t get any traffic!”

Sound familiar? As an online marketing consultant, I’ve heard countless versions of these statements. Each week I meet more small business owners who want to start a business blog, but something gets in their way:

• Lack of time
• Lack of technical expertise
• Lack of a plan

I, too, struggled with these problems when starting my first business blog in 2007. I had to focus not just on blog creation and maintenance, but on generating targeted traffic, capturing leads and making sales … all within the unique blog format.

I read every blog book I could get my hands on. But most were outdated, and none addressed how blogging could grow my business. So I spent two long years in trial and error, testing out one technique and abandoning it for another until I discovered exactly what worked.

(And let me tell you: you’d be amazed by all the blogging advice that’s just plain wrong. Hiding keywords at the bottom of every page, for example – while that may have gotten you search traffic in 1997, it could get you blacklisted from Google today.)

As my blog’s popularity grew, people began asking me:

What blogging software should I use?
How do I customize my blog design without spending a fortune?
How do I integrate a new blog with my existing web site?
How can I get more traffic, and how do I turn that traffic into sales?

I started wishing I had a book with all the answers – a step-by-step guide to successful business blogging, so I wouldn’t have to keep responding to the same questions.

Then, after spending yet another afternoon talking with a small business owner about the benefits of blogging, I realized I needed to hurry up and write it myself.

What I thought would be a three- or four-page report eventually turned into a 68-page e-book filled with:

• Tips on outsourcing the writing, design and setup affordably (pg. 14—15)
• Easy search engine optimization strategies for targeted blog traffic (pg. 27—30)
• Ways you can use your business blog to grow your mailing list (pg. 31—32)
• A fill-in-the-blank workbook with 36 questions to help you set goals, avoid problems and streamline the blogging process (pg. 61—68)

But following written instructions can be confusing, you may be thinking. I know. That’s why I also created six step-by-step videos to help you set up a hosted blog on WordPress and Blogger. You even get written transcripts of each video, so you don’t have to take notes.

Each time I thought I was done writing, I remembered one more tip or resource that would further simplify blogging for small business owners. Then I sent the e-book to friends and colleagues, who wrote back with more helpful tips and resources of their own.

I also sent out several review copies of the e-book. Here’s what readers had to say:

“The Small Business Blogging Blueprint is a mega-hit! I just finished your e-book and am quite impressed. I’ve been referencing “The New Rules of Marketing & PR” by David Meerman Scott as my blogging bible. Your book is easier to understand. I especially liked your step-by-step guides and links throughout.”
—Mark Zinda, Owner of ZAP and Co. Marketing

“Kelly has put together a comprehensive resource that’s also super easy for anyone to follow. If you’re thinking of starting a blog – or even if you already have one – this guide will steer you clear of common blunders and help set you up for blogging success.”
—Lisa Banks, Marketing Director at SEO Advantage

“You’ve done an amazing job pulling this all together. I think it is presented very comprehensively, yet the info is manageable. You get the sense of being able to pull it off because things are presented in such a clear, step-by-step fashion – almost like a workbook. There’s so many resources presented that can help any blogger.”
—Lori Baer, freelance writer and blogger

Worried the e-book in will go out-of-date? Don’t be. When you purchase the Small Business Blogging Blueprint, you get free access to updates and revisions for the life of the product. That means if I come across a great new resource for business bloggers, or receive questions about a particular topic that warrant an addition to the material, you’ll get a copy of the new “Small Business Blogging Blueprint” absolutely free. You’ll also receive exclusive discounts on future e-books and online classes.

The Small Business Blogging Blueprint also comes with a 30 day, 100-percent satisfaction guarantee. If you purchase the Small Business Blogging Blueprint and it doesn’t help you build a successful business blog, contact me for a full refund. No questions asked.

By now, you may be wondering how much the e-book costs. Ask yourself: How much would it cost you to hire a marketing consultant for an hour? How much money would you save if you could knock a few months, or even just a few days off the normal blogging learning curve?

You probably answered more than $29, the price for the Small Business Blogging Blueprint and step-by-step instructional videos. Purchase them now for instant access.

Just keep in mind that $29 is the introductory price, and could go up at any time. Only by purchasing now can you lock in this low rate and receive instant access to my business blogging secrets.

Top 5 Premium WordPress Themes

Anyone who talks to me hears in my voice my excitement over the potential that WordPress has brought back to the Web for small businesses and Netrepreneurs.

15 years ago when I started this adventure it was a level playing field. Then the “big guys” got online and priced out the average Joes and Janes when it came to getting found and paying for advertising. Add to that the bar had been raised as far as design and functionality. Quality sites became increasingly expensive to have developed, implemented and maintained which for small biz folks like you and I, meant it became even more prohibitive to compete.

Then, Blogging and WordPress started picking up steam. 4 years ago I thought to myself “Self, why can’t you use WordPress as a content management system?” I answered, you can!

My site had grown beyond efficient manageability and was a PIA to to update and intuitively organize. WordPress solved that for me. But what was more exciting was the fact I could finally offer my clients a positive answer to their most asked question:

“Can I make changes and do site modifications myself?”

To which I can now answer with a resounding, and confident, yes! The next step is then determining the look and feel of the new site — which is always subjective because that is all in the minds eye and clients have to like how the site looks. That’s where premium WordPress themes are so very important. They cover all these bases — and then some.

Several years ago there were two guys who were leaders in this new direction — they were ahead of the curve and then became the curve. They saw this wave coming and started creating feature rich, visually appealing and solidly coded WordPress premium themes. Brian Gardner of Studio Press and Corey Miller of iThemes were definitely leaders in this regard and whose themes I recommend and have used most. Much credit goes to these two gentlemen who create a superior — premium — product and back up their work with friendly, experienced and approachable support.

You may be thinking, but what about all those free themes out there? Well, folks, you’ve heard it before — with free you get what you pay for. Not to say that there are not quality themes available at no cost, but based on my experience, you have to deal with issues that simply do not exist when you use a premium WordPress theme.

For example; footer links. I don’t mind giving credit where credit is due but many free themes have encrypted links (meaning you remove the code and the theme breaks) to the author’s various affiliate programs as well. Sites you may not agree with or want to have a link to at the bottom of every page of your site.

Then you have the issue of quality — just because it’s free does not indicate the developer is skilled and experienced enough in WordPress and PHP to create solid bug-free code. And last but not least, who is going to upgrade that theme to keep up with WordPress and web trends — for free? These considerations are enough for you to not want to waste your valuable time and money having to deal with.

Instead, choose your site’s theme from the 5 sites below and you’ll not only look spiffy and be able to truly take advantage of everything Web 2.0, but you’ll have the confidence in knowing you are using a quality product backed with the type of support rarely found online.

Top 5 Premium WordPress Themes

1. Studio Press
2. iThemes
3. Theme Forest
4. WordPress Remix
5. Woo Themes

Everything You Wanted to Know About Social Media but Were Afraid to Ask

I’m talking up the importance of social media use, marketing and networking all day long. When new clients contact me about a Web site, social media comes up. When current clients call asking about updating, upgrading or what their next step should be with their two, three, four or 10 year old sites — yep, social media!

Technology can be very frustrating for those who do not do this every day, all day like I do. I hear hesitation in their voices when I start talking about stumbling, digging and tweeting. They think I’m nuts!

To help get everyone exposed to the topic, the tools and the benefits that social media participation can bring to your Web program, I’ve assembled a few of my favorite sites and links on the topic for your reading pleasure.

If you do nothing but review these resources, I bet you’ll be hard pressed to not see the need to embrace this wave!

• Wikipedia: Social media
• Social Media Marketing FAQ
• Social Media Will Change Your Business
• Study: Company Blogs Lead Social Media Options
• Web Site and Social Media Metrics You Should Monitor
• 8 Essential Free Social Media Monitoring Tools

Time to get “social” folks!

Do You Twitter and Tweet?

When I talk to clients about Twitter and tweeting, there is silence at the other end of the phone. Many have not heard of Twitter or know that when you use Twitter, you “tweet.” The main reason many do not know about Twitter is a vast majority are not yet Blogging — or if they are, they are not yet wholeheartedly involved as they should be to know, be aware of and use all the various tools out there.

Twitter is a micro-blog platform. It allows you to “follow” other people’s tweets which are 140 character blurbs about what they are up to. These tweets can also link to a post, such as my tweets do, on my Blog.

Here again is another nifty tool to tap into folks who prefer to follow those of like minds, associates, friends and even family by virtue of bite sized blurbs. Imagine the marketing potential! I’ve been tweeting for a while and have a list of folks who are following me. And by following their tweets I am exposure to new ideas and points of view.

You can see my Twitter tweets here…http://twitter.com/istudio. By choosing to follow me, you’ll get the first 140 characters of each post as they hit all three of my Blogs when I post.

As with any social media marketing or networking efforts the more you are involved and use a service or site the more you are able to build relationships, encourage contacts and form new partnerships. I know for a fact due to time constraints I’ve just tapped into the tip of the iceberg with Twitter and look forward to using it more wisely and aggressively as time permits.

Why not setup your Twitter account and start tweeting today? You just might be surprised how much fun you’ll have!

Blog Right or Don’t Blog at All

Right now I have 3 Blogs. I used to have a couple others but there simply was not enough time for me to give each Blog the time it deserved. So I shut them down. I struggle at times to keep the three I have now up to snuff.

Part of my job is to keep tabs, track trends and get a feel for what is going on “out there.” I subscribe to newsletters that keep me in the loop and check in on my favorite Bloggers as often as possible — usually when some code is giving me a hard time and I just need to do something else for awhile to clear my head.

With this approach I probably run into or stop by more Blogs than the average person. Most of the Blogs I run into are, well…. lame. It’s not the the Blogger doesn’t have something to say — they all do. But its choice of design, how they choose to communicate, how often and the uniqueness of their message or personality that can make the difference between a Blog that I run from or subscribe to.

So how do you “Blog Right”? Here are ten “must dos” if you would like to have a successful Blogging experience:

1. Choose a design that not only reflects your business and/or personality but makes your posts easy to read. Black backgrounds with yellow type may look “cool” but they are a real PIA to read. If you must use a dark colored background avoid primary colors for your text. Use the lightest color you can so that your words rise off the page — not blend into it.
2. Choose your post titles and content carefully. Titles are what potential readers see and what draws them in — or not. Content that backs up exactly what the title insinuates, actually gets read.
3. Choose categories that make sense for the purpose of your Blog that also ensure a logical intuitive organization of your posts. Yes, you want to have a purpose — a focus. That’s why Blogs are known by their Titles and Subtitles. Use terms that you know your site visitors will relate to and understand.
4. Choose a Blogging frequency that you can stick to. Posting frequency isn’t as important as consistency so that your readers know what to expect. For my three Blogs I do my best to Blog 4 days a week — Monday through Thursday. Yes, I may skip a day here or there, but those who subscribe know when they’ll be hearing from me.
5. Pepper your content with your own personal experiences or opinions. If you want to have a Blog that folks come back to or subscribe to, it has to be clear that there is a “personality” — you! Your Blog needs to offer a viewpoint, perspective or information on a certain topic or range of related issues that others are interested in.
6. Check for typos and proper grammar so your content is perceived as credible and legit. Don’t underestimate the power of perception when it comes to your skills and ability to communicate with the written word.
7. Be original in your post content. Blogs filled with others articles aren’t unique. Blogs filled with copy-n-pasted stuff from other sites is copyright infringement. Part of Blogging is introducing readers to other sites. What is also a part of Blogging is for the Blogger to explain in a paragraph or two — in their own words, based on their own experiences and perspective why they are bringing that site to their readers attention.
8. Encourage comments by asking for them. Every so often ask your readers what they think — they’ll tell you and you can then begin to meet new folks and create opportunities you otherwise would not have been exposed to.
9. Offer site visitors the ability to subscribe in multiple manners. Be sure to have a social bookmarking plugin so folks can easily add your page to their profiles and “Share.” You want to offer the ability to download your RSS feed and/or subscribe to your feed so readers can have post notices delivered to their inboxes. You can see the various tools I use on this site as examples. The more ways to subscribe; the more subscribers!
10. I recommend your comments be moderated — meaning you approve them before they see the light of day on your site. Read my article Blog CommentSense so you know how to handle comments on your your Blog. To Blog right, you need to approve authentic comments and offer a response in a prompt and friendly manner. This lets site visitors know that “someone is home” and helps to build your community.

I’ve advised more than one client to shut-down their Blog because they couldn’t accomplish the above. It was embarrassing for their business and didn’t display the commitment necessary for the effort being taken seriously or to enhance their online program. Lack of these efforts certainly didn’t promote or spin their business or expertise in a positive light.

If you can’t Blog right by following the tips above, maybe shutdown until you can or reconsider if Blogging is for you.

Your Customers Want to Interact with You!

A new study came out that reflects what I’ve been typing about for some time. Your clients, site visitors and potential customers want to communicate with you. They want to share product information and experiences. The want to have a discussion with you. They want to share their opinions and points of view about how you can better serve them.

This is the type of data, feedback and information that you need to know how to modify or move your business forward. “56% of American consumers feel both a stronger connection with, and better served by, companies when they can interact with them in a social media environment.” Talk about a gold mine of potential here!

When Americans were asked about specific types of interactions:

• Companies should use social networks to solve my problems (43%)
• Companies should solicit feedback on their products and services (41%)
• Companies should develop new ways for consumers to interact with their brand (37%)
• Companies should market to consumers (25%)

For more information on this study, visit the Cone Research

Whether it be social media pages like Facebook (32%) or MySpace (27%), your own Blog or message boards, your customers want to have the ability to communicate with you. Give them that option and reap the rewards!

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