Wow, I am very proud. I am blushing…Denise and I just got a glowing review from TL Pakii Pierce about the blog book, The Build a Better Blog System. You gotta read this, because Thomas really read every page, or so it would seem.
You can read his review by clicking here.
Thank you, Thomas.
And please, don’t forget he is our guest expert next week April 20 at 8:30 p.m. ET, on the Conversations with Experts free teleseries. Click here to read more about the Conversations and T.L. Pakii Pierce…
And the answer to the big question- just why are RSS Feeds important to me, my business, my newsletter and ezine tasks, and for my blogs???
Quite frankly, I don’t know!
But I do know how we can find out! (As soon as I figure out how to upload the file here, you can download a really nifty report that explains what RSS really means to you and your business… And, if I can’t get this thing uploaded, I know that Denise has posted it already over at BizTipsBlog.com, you can get it over there!) Bear with me a sec…
Early on in my blogging career- which was all of 9 months ago- I signed up for an RSS Feeder service. That lasted 2 weeks. I suffered a severe case of Information Overload as I had feeds coming into my inbox from every known media source that looked interesting to me. I cancelled my feeds, went to bed, and decided that adopting my new blog was enough of a family for me and my tiny brain to handle.
So, here we are 9 months later, and because I’ve written about blogs, have become one of those blogging addicts and fanatics, I can no longer ignore the hulabaloo about RSS Feeds. I know somehow they are going to be important if I’m going to tackle and conquer Internet Marketing Strategies.
Well, along comes Rok Hrastnik. He’s written the RSS Bible, and now I’m going to have the pleasure of trying the whole RSS thing out again, this time with a better attitude. RSS has something to do with delivering your messages, blogs & communications. (If it stands for Really Simple Syndication, how come no one but Rok really understands it? Oh, I guess I’m the only dummy…)
Denise Wakeman and I are sponsoring a free booklet that Rok has written. (Don’t you love that name?) I understand that he makes RSS easy as ABC…Here’s the scoop:
The Business Case for RSS
Confused about RSS? Not sure how it can be implemented to support all your marketing strategies? Rok Hrastnik, author of Unleash the Marketing & Publishing Power of RSS has written an excellent article on The Business Case for RSS, (and it’s free!) Here’s an excerpt from the introduction:
The purpose of this report is to demonstrate just how RSS can help you improve your bottom-line and show you how to integrate it within all of your internet marketing and publishing activities.
You can download it here, with our compliments!
Download rss_the_business_caseBranded.pdf (839.0K)
Yahoo, it worked! I uploaded the file, so you don’t have to go over to get it over at Denise’s blog…
It really is a cool little informational booklet and I have a feeling we’re going to all be learning about RSS soon anyway, so why not be the first on your block?
Here’s the real reason I love blogs; but first, some neat stuff on ROI of business blogs and how to measure it.
Debbie Weil of WordBiz and CEOblog has a new book out, The ROI of Business Blogging. If you want to read more, go to Rok Hrastnik’s MarketingStudies.net blog and to Debbie’s site.
In a nutshell, you can tell your blog is working by traffic to your web site pages, increased search engine rankings, and amount of reader interaction, trackbacks and comments.
But here’s the clincher for me:
"And finally I propose to you: does your blog make your online marketing and communications easier? I know that many of you say one of the reasons you’re not publishing an e-newsletter regularly is that it really does take a lot of time to write and format properly in HTML. But it takes two minutes to publish a blog post. And so instead of sending one long e-newsletter once a month, imagine twice a week publishing a short paragraph – which is delivered to your subscribers via an RSS feed. It’s much easier and quicker to write. It’s easier for people to read. Because a blog is both an instant publishing tool and also a content management tool."
And this is the REAL reason I think blogs are cool! They are easier to do than ezines and newsletters, and can be an opportunity to express with real authenticity the voice behind the typewritten words…
That said, don’t take my word, or Debbie’s, or Rok’s. Come join Denise Wakeman and I Wednesday night for a Conversation with Expert Paul Chaney of Radiant Marketing. Paul is going to talk about the evolution of blogs for business, you won’t want to miss it. We are giving away ebooks and all sorts of bonus gifts. (No, Andy, there is no pony being given away.)
Here’s the link to the PR release on Conversations with Expert Series on Wednesdays: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/4/prweb227087.htm
These calls are free, but you do need to sign up to get the phone number to call in at 8:30 p.m. ET: Go here to sign up.
Here’s a hint about the line-up of experts coming up:
4/20/2005 Thomas Pierce
4/27/2005 Wayne Hurlbert
5/4/2005 Priya Shah
5/11/2005 Michael Pollock
5/18/2005 Anita Campbell
5/24/2005 (TUESDAY!) BL Ochman
6/1/2005 Yvonne DiVita
Now, if that’s not a bunch of experts, I’m a monkey’s uncle. Of course, you could read what our experts have to say about blogs in our book The Build a Better Blog System, but I think it would be great if you could join us to hear each one speak in person.
Hope to "see" ya on Wednesday!
Patsi
Don’t ask me how we got this Internet Blogging Expert to kick off our Conversations teleseries, but we did! You won’t want to miss what Paul Chaney of Radiant Marketing has to share with us…
Conversations with Experts:
How to Build Your Business On and Off-line
Hosted by Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff of Build a Better Blog System
Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET
April 13, 2005, 8:30 p.m. ET – FREE
Guest Expert: Paul Chaney of Radiant Marketing Group, featured in the Build a Better Blog System
The Evolution of Blogs as Business and Marketing Tools
We will discuss the evolution of blogging from its nascency to the current day and beyond. Where has blogging come from and where is it going, and how is business making use of it at present and in the future. Our discussion will cover the various types of blogs that exist currently.
We will discuss “old school” thinking as it applies to blogging versus the new school of thought that blogs can be used as one component of a strategic marketing plan. Other topics will include the advantages of using blogs as marcom [marketing communication] tools, and the benefits businesses can accrue by virtue of using this medium, as well as the business of blogging and how people are actually accruing income via blogs. In what ways blogging is progressing as a profession or career path.
Paul Chaney is Principal of Radiant Marketing Group, a leading business blog consultancy. He is President of Professional Bloggers Association, a professional contract blogger for Weblogs Inc and Creative-Weblogging Network. Paul is Technical Editor and contributing writer for Buzz Marketing with Blogs For Dummies. Prior to beginning Radiant Marketing Group, he was Director of Online Communications for a leading non-profit association. Paul has over nine years of internet marketing experience, and has been a blogger since January 2004.
Registration, click here to get the phone number to call. Don’t forget, Wed., April 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET- it’s free and it’s going to be interesting.
Want to know why successful coach Andrea Lee is using a blog for fun and profit?
We did an audio interview with Andrea Lee of Multiple Streams of Coaching Income. You can listen to it over at www.BuildaBetterBlog.com.
One of the best reasons to buy our ebook on Build a Better Blog is for the interviews of successful business bloggers. My recommendation would be to read every interview BEFORE starting your blog as these bloggers know what they’re doing, are successful and share some amazing information about what’s made them successful.
Patsi
The Build a Better Blog System ebook is ready, folks! Okay, I lied. The preview edition is ready for purchase. You get a large chunk of the full version now, pay only $35 and get the big boy for free in a week!
Here’s are 5 reasons you should buy the book now:
1. If you haven’t started your professional business blog yet, your competitors probably already have.
2. If you do start a blog, you shouldn’t get a cookie cutter free template that doesn’t look professional.
3. You should have an effective branding name for your blog and get it to ‘point’ to your blog account.
4. You ought to have a way to capture visitors names and email addresses on your blog, like a subscription form; this can be tricky and a big time waster if you don’t know how to do it.
5. Don’t waste your time trying to do this yourself blindly. We have graciously made all the mistakes there are to make, and will share our tips, tricks and tools so you don’t have to fix these glitches like we did.
To read the full story of why you need this vital information before you set up your blog, click here.
The preview price is good for the next week until we finish polishing up the interviews, so you can procrastinate a little bit… but why miss out on this low price, when you’ll probably forget and then have to pay full price?
To purchase now, and skip all the sales hype, (you might as well) click here.
Patsi
Get First Shot at the Build A Better Blog System
In a few days Denise Wakeman and I will be launching the preview, pre-launch edition of the Build A Better Blog System.
In anticipation of publishing our ebook on creating a professional business blog, we have created a preview edition that includes our 12 step, quick start guide and 4 tutorials so you can get started quickly.
This is just a sample of the dozens of tutorials, content and interviews you will get with the complete edition. We’ll be offering the preview edition at a deeply discount price which will include the full version when it is complete.
Go here to get on the list to get first notification of publication!
We’ve been busy! Here’s what’s new:
The Build A Better Blog System has been launched. You can read the press release here or visit the Build a Better Blog.
Denise Wakeman and I have created a Top 10 list on why you should have an integrated blog and ezine marketing plan. You can get the free report delivered to your email box by clicking this link to send an email.
Need help with your ezines and/or blogs? Denise and I will get out our whips and "coach" you into submission! Telecoaching program starts Tuesday March 1, 7:30 p.m. ET. Every other Tuesday over a 4-month period you will get tips, tricks, and real "hands-on help," that’s is over the phone of course. We only have a few places left, so don’t wait to sign up. Because we will become actively involved in setting up your ezines and blogs, we limit this class size. To register, click here.
You get:
And this is all for only $149, so it makes sense. This amount of help would cost much more if you were to hire us individually. We guarantee you will have your ezine and blog out the door and looking good.
Now, can I interest you in this potato-peeler that can slice, dice and mince to the tune of Dixie? Heck, I’ll throw it in for free when you sign up for the telecoaching program! Such a deal…!
Patsi
What, You Still Don’t Have a Great Ezine or Blog?
I can’t believe it. I told you to do it. I wrote an ebook to show you how. And there you are, reading this blog, complaining that all I do is nag, nag, nag…
Okay, okay. I know, I know. You have too much work to do, too many clients, and you just keep putting it off. Besides, all those tech tasks are just so annoying.
So here’s the deal: we are going to walk you through the steps to create a regular, professional ezine and/or blog (why not do both!). We’ll teach you, coach you, hold your hand, and if that doesn’t work…I’ve got a long stick with a couple of nails.
Denise Wakeman and I realize that in order to get results with your marketing tasks, you have to schedule some time, sit down and do some writing, formatting and publishing. Some of you may be resistent, confused, just plain brilliant but stuck.
Join us for a telecoaching program that will extend over 8 Tuesdays for 4 months and provide you with information, tips, tools, motivation, inspiration, and a long whip if you don’t produce your ezine/blog during that time.
Heck, I’ll even charge you double if you don’t produce your ezine/blog, how’s that?!! What, I should refund your money if you don’t do what I tell you to???
Here’s the info on this new class:
Better Blogs and Ezines TeleCoaching Program
For an integrated approach to your Internet Marketing plan…
BETTER EZINES & BLOGS Telecoaching Program
Led by Patsi Krakoff, Psy.D., CBC and Denise Wakeman
Tuesdays, March 1 – June 7, 2005
7:30 PM EST 1 hour
$149.00
This class is limited to 8 participants.
Still struggling with your ezine or blog? Let us walk you through the tasks in an environment where your peers and experts can motivate you. This is an action based workshop. Participants will write, format, post and produce an effective ezine or blog. Knowing is different than doing. Class meets every other Tuesday for 8 sessions with homework in between. You will have your ezine or blog up and running by end of class.
You get:
8 hours of coaching on blog and/or ezine writing, set up and content with 2 internet marketing experts
Access to private class blog with tons of "how-to" tutorials and resources
5 hours of audio from the Blog Revolution Class ($97 value)
Complimentary copy of Secrets of Successful Ezines ($87 value)
Complimentary copy of Secrets of Successful Blogs (when published – $87 value)
30 minute one-on-one consultation with the instructor of your choice for feedback, editing and reviews ($75 value)
Information: www.customizednewsletters.com
Come to the intro class, it’s free, next Tuesday March 15, 8:45 p.m. ET.
Register Here
Patsi
Last summer, I kept hearing about business blogs from Debbie Weil over at WordBiz.com. She inspired me so much, I actually went out and started my own blog. Now, for a non-techie gal like myself, that is really some courage.
Yesterday, when I mentioned her blog for CEOs, she responded in an email to thank me. Now, I had only posted a few minutes before, so I was really impressed. Somebody reads this blog, and it’s none other than the blogging diva, Debbie Weil! So I can’t resist her suggestion that I plug her upcoming event in the Beltway area Feb. 17. Here’s what she says:
…mention my Feb. 17 Blogging & RSS Workshop in Washington DC. I’m trying to get the word out to as many folks as possible who might be able to attend. It’s for corporate & non-profit marketing and communications types who are not familiar yet with blogging and RSS and want to get up to speed quickly! – Debbie Weil
http://www.wordbiz.com/blog_rss_jumpstart.html
So if you’re lucky enough to be in the areas, don’t miss this knock-out event. It is sure to be worth it.
