Why YOU need a blog and how to make it successful
Blog 101 has been getting some favorable mentions. Granted, some are from dear friends who would support me even if I published a book about paper bags. But it is sure nice to know that a Google search on the book returns such nice remarks.
Check out what these blogs have to say about Blog 101:
As I’ve discussed in Blog 101: Why YOU Need a Blog and How to Make it Successful, the two most important factors to a successful blog are:
1. Building a community
2. Offering them something of value
Both require an understanding of your niche and your audience. It may take some time to discover what you have to offer that is unique and needed. I recommend doing your research, not just assuming you know what people will want from you. To start, ask your customers, your staff and yourself the following types of questions:
- Do our customers ask us for referrals or information that we don’t provide as part of our services?
- Is there information about our industry that we know would help our customers?
- Are there resources our customers find useful that we could easily provide?
There are no hard and fast rules about what you can and cannot offer. Use your imagination. If you have experience in your field, you most likely have an abundance of knowledge that your customers would be grateful to receive.
Below are examples of two blogs and the value they provide to their communities.
Local Choices is a community directory and resource for Organic and Natural Farmers in California’s Central Valley. They started the blog as a way to gauge the potential community for a health food store they wanted to open. Shortly after launching the blog they discovered there was not a single directory or resource to help people locate Organic Farmers or Farmers Markets in the area. In fact, most of the public had no idea how many Organic Farmers existed in their own backyard! The health food store has since been put on the back burner and the bloggers are now focused on helping farmers with their outreach through the web. Local Choices has provided a valuable service to farmers and the public in search of healthy alternatives in the Central Valley.
Enlighten Electric is a reliable Los Angeles electrician. He wanted a place for people to find him on the web but couldn’t afford a traditional website, so he launched a blog. After doing some research online, he discovered there was a lack of information available to consumers about how to choose an electrician or how to spot electrical hazards in the home. He also realized that he could use his blog a resource for other skilled tradesmen, as his customers are always asking for referrals. Enlighten Electric is just getting started but is already building community by providing valuable information to people in need of electrical advice and making a name for himself as a trusted resource and probably a darn good electrician.
For the last two days I have had my morning tea with marketing guru Seth Godin and fellow marketing authors like Debbie Weil and Keith Ferrazzi. Okay, so it was over the phone, I was muted and part of an audience of 1,800 listeners from around the world. Nonetheless, it was a total thrill to get to listen to some of my current role models live, on speaker phone, in my living room. Their spirited discussions about the future of marketing, community building and proper utilization of social media have been inspiring and thought provoking, to say the least. Many of their ideas are reflected in my book Blog 101: Why YOU Need a Blog and How to Make it Successful.
These amazing calls are free and facilitated by Elizabeth Marshall at Author Teleseminars. I recommend checking out their services or signing up for future teleseminars. Welcome to the age of FREE, grab the information you can and make the most of it!
I also recommend getting a copy of Seth’s new book Meatball Sundae. If you are stuck in traditional marketing and trying to put new marketing on top of it, you will end up with a mess on your hands. Seth’s book will help you navigate your way to a sundae with hot fudge and a cherry on top.
Today is Super Tuesday here in California.
Did you VOTE yet?
Not only did I VOTE today, but I finished my book, BLOG 101, and put it up for purchase! This will not be a day I soon forget.
It has been a long road to completing this project and I am so thrilled with the final product. I believe that the Internet and blogging can act as a powerful vehicle for change. Just look at the impact it has had on the current race for President. My hope is that BLOG 101 will provide readers with the guidance and answers they need to start their own blogs and make them a screaming success.
Blog 101 owes a great deal of thanks to the amazing friends and family that have contributed content, design, feedback and inspiration along the way.
I had the pleasure and good fortune to work with designer Shawn Bathe. His keen sense of style and design made BLOG 101 a truly quality product. Not only is he a talented designer, but a joy to work with. I highly recommend his services.
Justin Kistner was my technical adviser, educator and all around incredible support system. Surely one of the brightest minds in the Web 2.0 realm, I’m so grateful to have him along for the ride. Be sure to check out his blog Metafluence: It’s Not Marketing, It’s Manipulation.
Although I have now officially written a book, it would not have been possible to follow the flow of my ideas without the help of an editor. Kellie Poulin spent numerous hours reading and correcting my shoddy syntax. In the end, she helped to transform BLOG 101 into a well-written and comprehensive guide. Her gentle nature and enthusiasm for the subject complimented my work beautifully.
There were many others whose valuable contributions are part of BLOG 101, but you’ll have to buy the book to hear more about them. I will be posting more information about the progress of the book as it comes in. Please feel free to send me your success stories to share with my readers. True inspiration is found in the success of others.
Until then…BLOG ON!!
The folks at Mashable, a blog about social networking, put together a list of 50 widgets for your blog. They include widgets that give the current price of gas and videos that are relevant to the context of your blog or post. My favorite is the Giftbox that allows your friends and family to see what you want for your birthday. This widget might also be used to collect donations for needy children or items for a non-profit in need.
The Beginners Guide to Blogging
Blog 101 is an introduction to blogging for beginners. It covers the basic definitions, history and benefits of having and maintaining a blog. Blog 101 takes the reader through step-by-step instructions on setting up and populating a blog, integrating into the blogosphere and building the vital online community necessary for a blog to be a success!
