Do you know how to write blog posts so that they actually get read? Some people think blogging is easy: Write it and it will be read. If you’ve ever written a blog post, you know that’s not true, and it’s hard to craft a post people will read. This infographic was created for Salesforce Canada and it says it all; it will help you put together a share-worthy post.
Click To Enlarge
Via Salesforce
Do you struggle with the creative process of writing blogs? Do you cringe when you need to find a topic for your blog? You’re not alone.
Over the past 11 years, I’ve written a ton of information about writing great blog posts and newsletters, as well as e-books, white papers and articles to increase your visibility. Sometimes it feels like I’ve already written as much as I have to say. There’s nothing new, it’s been done before.
But then I remember that people forget and new people come to visit all the time. It’s motivation to keep my blog posts fresh and interesting.
So how do you choose a topic for writing blogs that will be most relevant to your readers, and hasn’t been said 1,000 times before? Trust the process and get busy.
Almost 100 years ago, Graham Wallas observed that creative solutions appear sequentially:
Preparation => Incubation => Illumination => Implementation
The same is true for writing quality content – blog posts are written by following a creative process. Read More→
All the data shows that people prefer doing business with authentic brands and authentic professionals. But how authentic is your blog writing? Do you sound authentic? And, how do you write authentically, anyway?
In my last blog post, I shared 5-steps for a good bio/marketing message for an e-newsletter:
The problem is that when you try to write authentically, it’s difficult to know what exactly to do. What makes blog writing sound real, sound authentic? Read More→
When’s the last time you updated your bio on your About page on your blog or website?
Smart bloggers know that this is one of the most visited pages: People want to know who’s behind a business. Personalities count. Yet many blogs and sites have a standard resume written in the third person, boring as all get-out.
Certainly client lists are important. But so are you. An About page is an important content marketing opportunity. Tell your story, your real story. If you are the sole author of your blog, write it in the first person. Read More→
A few years ago I polled readers and asked what their biggest blogging challenge is. Turns out, it’s not lack of time, it’s lack of inspiration. Does your blog writing lack inspiration? Is it hard to get really fired up when starting to write a post?
I get that. When I was just starting out as a blogger (was that really over 15 years ago?!) I could just feel that screen staring right back at me. What can a blogger blog about to other bloggers?
Lack of inspiration comes from not being sure you’re doing it right, or doing it well, and lack of confidence that it will be worth it… in other words, fear and doubt.
Fear and doubt go away when you know what you’re doing, and have a system that will allow you to move forward confidently.
Here are two ways you can side-step fear and doubt, and write frequent, consistent quality posts and develop a blogging habit that will grow your abilities over time. Nobody starts out writing well. Yet, everybody’s got a piece of genius within them, so it’s a question of finding it and putting it on paper, quickly, before any demons get in the way. Read More→
The biggest mistake business bloggers make is that they are frequently ego-centric. This isn’t necessarily all bad, it simply doesn’t bring the blogging results that smart professionals expect.
Bloggers are so passionate about their message and their expertise, they preach. They shout. They proclaim. They implore. They explain. They document and support their logic.
But they forget about that old background tune that repeats in the head of all readers: “What’s in it for me?” Bloggers assume that their readers are like them and interested in the same things.
If you want good advice, refer to the classics. There’s no better style writing advice than The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B.White. Here are 10 tips that adapt Strunk and White’s advice to blog writing (the first 8 are from Dean Rieck over on Copyblogger and is titled The Ultimate Blogger Writing Guide): Read More→
When it comes to content marketing and great blogging, insight and originality rules.
According to the authors of Content Rules:
“Produce great stuff, and your customers will come to you. Produce really great stuff, and your customers will share and disseminate your message for you. More than ever before, content is king! Content rules!” ~ Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman, Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars and More that Engage Customers and Ignite Your business (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2011).
This works, but it’s a lot of work. If you’re a coach, consultant, or service professional, say a doctor, therapist, lawyer, financial adviser, or health expert, you need to create content that will help your clients. You need to become a trusted resource for insights, and a go-to curator of tips and information to be helpful to people who are interested.
And you need to create strong feelings around your published content so that people will take action and keep coming back. You need them to subscribe, to sign up, to download, to ask you questions and engage with you so they become clients when they are ready. Read More→
If you’re a leadership coach or a consultant to leaders you know how time-consuming it is to write quality leadership articles and blogs. Here’s a professional writing service just for you providing leadership articles for your newsletters and blogs.
And, you can get a 10% discount on annual subscriptions with Content for Coaches, if you order before Thursday, July 31, 2014.
If you’re interested, go to Content for Coaches Summer Sale, here.
This is a special opportunity to save money on new subscriptions for quality leadership content. Read More→
Judith Briles is an author’s best friend, especially when it comes to book writing. When she speaks, I listen… and you should to, if you get the opportunity. But until her next authors and writers conference, here’s the next best thing: her latest book: Snappy Sassy Salty!
Could you use a pick-me-up?
A bit of inspiration or silliness?
How about something to chew on or get you unstuck?
How about your clients and followers?
In Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers, you will find all that and more. This is a collection of favorite advice from Judith Briles over the years to thousands of authors.
Coffee along with the right words creates the perfect buzz!
As a blogger, I know that the right combination of words engages readers. When a slump hits or your writer juice isn’t flowing, authors need a goose.
Along with a cup of coffee, this little book of short and snappy reminders will get your fingers tapping, your mind buzzing. and your words onto the screen.
Every little blurb is loaded with motivational juice to get writers writing. I bought it to give as a gift, but now the pages are too worn …
If you haven’t worked with Judith, or attended her seminars, you might not know she actually lives, walks and talks these wise words for writers. She’s one of the most helpful, caring, and authentic book experts around … a true book shepherd.
Today, Tuesday, July 22, 2014 is the day … don’t delay, get your copy of Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and claim your FREE GIFTS that are designed for authors, writing and publishing success DURING TUESDAY’S OFFICIAL BOOK LAUNCH:
Your copy of Snappy Sassy Salty is waiting for you here, click now!
How’s your blog writing going? Snap, crackle and publish? Or are you a little blocked, maybe even constipated?
Do you feel dread and overwhelm when it’s time to post on your blog?
You may offer great solutions and services for your clients, but if you don’t simplify your blog writing tasks and publish frequent, compelling content, you won’t get great content marketing results.
In a blog post last week I shared that the two most common statements I hear about blogging are: Read More→
