Making News

(Sept. 11, 2007)

GET YOUR OWN GROUPIES

How to Launch a Banging Blog

By Steve Kleber

The common misperception about blogs is that they’re simply a communication vehicle to gain visibility among the online community. However, if this is your only goal, then you might want to rethink why you’re wasting time blogging in the first place.

The reasons behind blogging must include a driving interest to comment about your area of expertise. If you don’t have this motivation, then find it; otherwise, your blogs will be dry and self-promotional - two reasons why you’ll never gain a vast readership base.

Below are some tips on how to create blogs that will be an integral part of your integrated marketing program.

Use conversational tones
Bloggers don’t want to read long-drawn out sentences or a boring analysis about your topic of choice. Instead they want quick, easy-to-read and insightful content. This doesn’t mean sacrificing proper grammar; but what it does mean, is edgy, personalized comments laid out in simple formats.

Numbered lists, bullets and attention-grabbing subheads allow readers to scroll down the page speedily. Photographs and images are also a must-have. Whether beginning with a photo or embedding it into your blog post, incorporating pictures is a sure-fire way of grabbing the interest of your audience.

Be up on the news
Even though your blog may not include commentary about current events, an awareness of these happenings and those that may, affect your chosen blog topics, gives you an extra edge.

Try to find connections between seemingly unrelated current events and your blog topics. If you can draw the reader in with a catchy headline about how a recent scandal, court case or tragedy will affect your community, then by all means blog about it.

Links, links, links
The great thing about including links in blogs is that they’re generally simple and quick and allow readers to surf other relevant sites to find out more information if their interests are peaked. And if they’re not? Well, they simply just skip over them.

This allows your post to remain short-winded and captivating but still allows readers the option of checking out other information sources to become even more enlightened on the topic. Your take on the subject will be explained without delving into all of the details with which your readers may already be familiar.

Command attention
Whether you’re poking fun at A-list celebrities or commenting about incorporating environmentally-friendly products into home design, become an informed expert on your topic of interest. It doesn’t matter which subject you choose; becoming an active force in the community establishes you as a key authority, thereby invigorating your readership base. If you remain a constant presence, people inevitably begin viewing you as the go-to person on that given subject.

Make yourself a resource
If you haven’t already networked with other industry bloggers and experts, what are you waiting for?! Linking up with other noted industry bloggers, commenting on their posts and including their takes into your blogs is a superior way to create a community that everyone will benefit from – you, your partners as well as your readers.

This also aids in establishing yourself as a reputable benefit to the industry. Waiting to divulge your thoughtful industry report, insightful sales guide or spreadsheet? Create a downloadable version that allows readers to check out your tools at their own leisure. They will appreciate your hard work and dedication to their craft while validating how ingenious you are.

The time is now
Have an interest in a specific subject or industry and want to write about it? Start by creating a blog site. They are far simpler to produce than you may expect. Moreover, they allow a venue for you and your industry comrades to discuss the latest topics.

The most vital thing to remember is to allocate adequate time to frequently write and post blogs whenever you have something important to say. Don’t use the excuse of not having enough time. Remember, if you don’t make the time to blog, you never will.

Check out my latest blog site at kleber-marketing.com to view posts on marketing and the home industry.


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