Writing On The Web by Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad

Content Marketing Strategies for Smart Professionals

Content Marketing with Blogs:
The Best Business Blog Posts List

Oh man, Tom Pick is a guy who must never sleep. He's got this amazing blog called The WebMarketCentral Blog, and he's made a list of a gazillion best blog posts for business bloggers over the span of 2008. It covers everything from content, traffic, design, search engine optimization, social media, you name it.

If you're a blogger and doing business on the Web, you gotta check this list of best blog posts out. You're sure to find key information that could really make a difference between blogging for fun and blogging for business.

How can you generate more targeted traffic to your blog? What techniques will help you write more compelling posts? Which "rules" should every blogger know and follow?

Find the answers to these questions and others here in WebMarketCentral's final list of the best posts on business blogging from the last year.

Here's what Tom says about my post Content Marketing: How do you write to entertain readers? by Writing On The Web, included on the list of Best Business Blog Posts, part 3:

The remarkable Patsi Krakoff presents eight tips for writing blog posts that stand out by both informing and entertaining readers, such as: telling a story; revealing a mistake you made and the lessons learned; or hardest but most valuable of all, rising above cliches and providing a higher level of current thinking.

Content Marketing with Blogs:
Get a New Pair of Glasses for Blog Improvement

By Patsi Krakoff in Uncategorized

I just got off the phone with Easton Ellsworth. My "new set of glasses" blog improvement program continues this month over on my ContentforCoaches blog site. I continue to be amazed. (Sorry, I can't tell you details until they're unveiled…)

The point I want to make is that none of us can know what we don't know. We can't see what we never noticed before. Forgive me if I come across as gushing, but I have to share what I feel…

Working with Easton is like going to the most expensive fashion designer on TV and getting a style makeover. Only he's not changing the shoes or the belt, or the way you wear your hair. That would cost you money. You'd look better, but you have to pay for it.

No, this is a makeover to your blog, your social media visibility, your information products, your SEO issues…all those things you must do for an online business. Only these changes make YOU money! I like that. Cost of investment in Visionary Blogging program? Can you believe only $47?

Here's what's included:

Content Marketing Genius @Work:
Jonathan Kranz Reveals His Secrets

By Patsi Krakoff in Content Marketing

I'm proud to say I snagged a big fish to interview the other day futzin' around on Twitter. None other than Jonathan Kranz of Kranz Communications. Jonathan's everywhere on the Web these days, and he's so nice, he even called me for a chat about our favorite topic, content marketing.

It's getting so phone call's a real treat, I can only take so much email and Tweets! He's not afraid to pick up the phone and call to connect, just like real human beings used to do, back in the day…

Jonathan's a cracker-jack copywriter and all-around web savvy guy who knows his way around content and marketing.

So it's only natural that I feature him as our star content marketer for September! Here're a few of Jonathan's insights on how he does content marketing well. I found these insights really useful, and I hope you do too.

Dear Patsi,

Thank you so much for inviting me to participate on your blog! Below are my responses to your interview questions. Please don’t hesitate to call or write me if you have any questions or comments.

What does Content Marketing mean to you in your business?

Everything! I’m now in my fourteenth year as a copywriter and I’m seeing tremendous shifts in the way my clients market themselves.

I cut my teeth in direct marketing and in the mid 1990’s, getting a 3% response rate was considered very good. By the end of the 1990’s, expectations dropped to 2%, then 1%. By the time I got out of direct mail, getting even a half-percent response was considered an achievement!

Are You Working on U.S. Labor Day? Here’s How Not to…

By Patsi Krakoff in Content Marketing

In the U.S. it's a tradition to celebrate the first weekend in September as Labor Day. While most of Europe and Mexico uses the 1st of May to recognize workers, North Americans use the 1st Monday in September as an excuse for a 3-day vacation. And why not!

If you've noticed, many blogs have slowed down, and I'm just about to join them. But before I take a break, for any readers who may still be lurking online, I want to remind you of several important posts this week, you may have missed.

Content Marketing with Blogs: Download a free worksheet, 15 Ways to Find Fresh Blog Content Ideas.
5 Reasons Content Marketing is Getting Harder: Don't miss this post, it's a good one
Click & Vote: What's Your Beef with Blogs? I'd love to know what bugs you about blogging. Please vote.
Help Keep Kids in School: Please help me celebrate my birthdays (all 4 of them) by donating to Los Ninos de Chapala y Ajijic.

Okay, now I am officially taking a break, and I hope you take time to spend with your loved ones, where ever you may be in the world.

Here in Ajijic, Mexico, they've put up red and green decorations in preparation for the Mexican Independence Day, September 16. It's beginning to look like Christmas…

Help Sponsor a Child to Stay in School:
Make the World a Better Place

By Patsi Krakoff in Uncategorized

One reason I'm able to earn money online is because strangers helped pay for my education through scholarships. Without scholarships and donations, I never would have had an education.

You can't make your way in this world, without schooling. And when you can't work and earn money, it's easy to turn to crime and drugs. If we want to make the world a better place, we must start with getting kids decent educations. Especially here in Mexico, this is important.

Some kids on my block have dropped out of school, before the 8th grade, because their parents don't have enough to pay for their school fees, even though public education in Mexico is supposed to be free. (Read article below to find out why it really isn't.)

Donate to Celebrate

Today, on my birthday, I'm starting to collect donations to Los Ninos de Chapala y Ajijic. Please donate $1, $2, or $10, whatever you can. The money helps kids to stay in school. They'll be able to pay for their fees, school uniforms, and other necessities.

Judy King, a local writer, explains better than I about the Los Ninos organization and what they do. Read it, and if you wish to help, click the donate button and make your contribution through PayPal. When you do, I'll be sure to send you a bonus guide on best content marketing books.

Helping Educate Kids: Just a Little Changes Children's Lives

(Photo Credit: Shutterstock)

Happy Birthday to Patsi, Her Blog, & Her Online Business

By Patsi Krakoff in Fun and Irrelevant Things About Patsi

Happy Birthday to me! I'm celebrating 4 birthdays. Here's why:

I started providing Content for Coaches in 1999, 10 years ago today. Ten years of an Internet business isn't bad. (Photo by Shutterstock.)

I started this blog 5 years ago today. I've published over 1,000 posts, and have a steady stream of readers and visitors. Thanks to all you guys out there reading, thank you, thank you!

I quit drinking 24 years ago today. (This is what keeps me young, healthy, and sane!)

I was born 65 years ago today. (I know, how did that happened? Must be some mistake…)

Believe me when I tell you I'm having more fun today than I did when I was young, rich and pretty. My tennis game has never been better, my husband seems to get wiser and funnier the longer we're together, even my cats Huey and Dewey seem to be spry and healthy. I am so grateful for family and friends, and to all my Web buddies and colleagues.

To celebrate, I'm preparing some free digital downloads, but I'm not finished yet. I'm also setting up a donation program for my favorite charity down here in Mexico, Los Ninos de Chapala y Ajijic. They help pay school expenses for needy kids.

I'll let you know how you can help and how you can access some helpful guides for easier content marketing, as soon as the festivities are over and I'm all set up for this anniversary & birthday project.

Thank you dear readers, you make blogging worthwhile. ;-))

Google’s Wonder Wheel Boosts Content Idea Searches

By Patsi Krakoff in About Blogs

Problogger Darren Rowse shares a video to show you how to access a cool keyword research tool provided by Uncle Google, the Wonder Wheel!

I'm serious, where did they come up with the name? Go to Google search, click on Options and find the Wonder Wheel and have fun! Check out Darren's video explanation first though.

How to Use Google’s Wonder Wheel to Find Topics to Write about

Google's Wonder Wheel tool is great for discovering topics to write about on your blog. It's also a great way to find competitor's sites… just sayin'…

Click & Vote: What’s Your Beef with Blogs?

By Patsi Krakoff in Uncategorized

I'm running a poll (powered by Vizu.com) to find out what your biggest challenges are with content marketing with blogs. Scroll down the far right column to find it, then vote.

If you don't find your biggest beef with blogs listed as a voting choice, please leave a comment here on this post and tell me what bugs you about blogging. What do you struggle with, what are you unhappy with, what do you wish would be easier, faster, and get better results.

Earlier on in my blogging career (2004), when I first formed The Blog Squad with Denise, I used to encourage everyone to get a blog and use it for content marketing. I was so excited about being able to publish on the Web my little ol' self, that I'd tell everyone they MUST blog for business, they'd be a fool not to. Now, I'm open to other ideas.

I love writing, and love blogging. But not everyone does and not everyone should be blogging. Spending your time doing something that isn't effective is stupid.

Content Marketing with Blogs: “A” Is for Action

By Patsi Krakoff in Uncategorized

4 Keys to Advanced Blogging Success- A is for Action
by Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D., The Blog Squad

Simply writing on a blog isn’t enough to drive business. You have to pay attention to four key areas to have a successful blog: Content, Outreach, Design and Action.

The CODA system is an easy check list for paying attention to what really matters on your business blog. If you aren’t getting the kind of results you want from your blog, study each of these areas to find where you can improve and then make the necessary adjustments.

A is for Action

Normally “call to action” is associated with a sales letter designed to get readers to click and buy. When blogging for business, however, consider including a call to action in most posts. The “action” is different and more subtle, however, than asking readers to click to buy something.

(Definitely ask your readers to “click here and buy or register.” Of course! If you’re in business, then you’re not using your blog just for your ego, after all! But there are other calls to action in blog posts that must precede that.)

The primary action to be concerned with in your blog is building relationships and trust with your readers. Every thing you write should keep the readers’ needs in mind. Here are tips for building trust and engaging your readers.

“What Do Women Want?”

Just like the movie title, you should continually ask “What do readers want?” Here are a few ways to engage your readers and find out what they want:

Ask readers questions and ask them to leave comments
Run a poll or a survey
Run a contest
Ask them to submit their tips, ideas, and suggestions
Write a top ten list of best blogs in your field, then ask readers to contribute additional suggestions. This will let you know what your readers are reading and give you an idea of what they appreciate. (This is a great way to build links because people on your top ten list will post on their blog about being included in your list…)

The more you can create opportunities to interact with your readers, the more likely they will become loyal readers, fans, and clients.

This is relationship marketing, and everything you do on your blog should be designed to build relationships with readers, by keeping them top of mind.

Blog on!