Blogging For Business: Tips on Marketing With Your Blog

There are so many different types of blogs, and some of them are for a variety of uses besides marketing for your business. Even my first blog, started in 2005 while I was still a classroom teacher, was not for business in any way. I had started a Blogger site on Google’s Blogspot platform in order to better serve my students with information and technology.

On May 2, 2005 Business Week magazine published a cover story entitled ‘Blog Will Change Your Business’ and the world took notice. While I was not even aware of that story until much later, I know that my simple little blog had a huge impact in the way I communicated with my students, other teachers, and parents.

When it comes to blogging for your business, think of this as opening the doors to awareness and participation. Awareness of who you are, what you’re doing, who you serve, and what you know about your niche topic. Participation in the form of involvement, maintaining a conversation with your readers, and encouraging feedback with comments and guest posts. At no other time in our history have businesses enjoyed such a rich culture of instant interaction and masterminding on a site accessible by people around the world. And instead of your prospects and clients talking amongst themselves, they have the opportunity to talk directly with you, and you with them in a manner that encourages openness and an exchange of ideas leading to improved products, services, and customer relations.

The blogospehere ( a term coined to refer collectively to all blogs and their interactions) has become a vast field of thoughts, dreams, and ideas, yet most blogs are abandoned soon after being set up. With an estimated two hundred million blogs online during 2013, that’s a lot of lonely electrons out there in cyberspace. I have to admit that a dozen or so of that number were mine; forgotten when I changed my mind about writing on a certain topic.

Once you get into the habit of blogging a couple of time each week you will find your voice and understand the true value of blogging for business. I run a seven figure business from my blogs and many other entrepreneurs do the same.

So when it comes to blogging for your business, tips for marketing include creating fresh and relevant content to drive targeted traffic, adding an optin box with a free giveaway to build your list, and inviting comments to increase visibility and credibility. Your blog is your ‘home on the Internet’, so make it a warm and inviting place to receive readers, prospects, and clients.

How To Find Great Content For Your Business

We need fresh, relevant content on a regular basis for our online businesses. I do much of my own writing, but I certainly cannot create enough great content to satisfy the needs of my readers. The question then becomes one of where to find the best content from alternate sources.

Newspapers and magazines still tend to produce some of the most unique and well-researched content in the world. As a rule of thumb, content that’s printed in a newspaper is usually more carefully checked than content found on the internet.

Online, a lot of websites tend to have similar information. Often time’s content writers do most of their research from other sources online. Yet newspapers and magazines work completely differently. They’re consistently able to produce highly unique content every single month that’s unlike anything that’s ever been published. How do they do that?

Here are some of the ways that newspapers and magazines find great content.

Interviewing Real Experts

Instead of looking through medical websites, journalists will actually call up well-known doctors to ask for their opinions. If they’re doing an article on a particular car, they might call up the car manufacturer or a plant manager to talk about how the car was built.

As a smaller publisher, you might not be able to command the same respect as a New York Times reporter, but you’ll be surprised at how many people are willing to give free advice if you just ask.

Using Books and Offline Publications

Another common source of information is written books and other publications, especially academic papers, research papers or official studies.

By looking up studies and books written by experts in the field, you can get a much more in-depth look into subjects that you just wouldn’t get from browsing internet websites.

There are several academic paper search engines out there you can use to find detailed source material for research.

The Public at Large

You might be surprised at how much information can be gleaned from the public at large. Granted, this doesn’t work for skill-intensive subjects like medicine or law, but for many subjects the public at large can be a great resource for content. For example, if you run a financial blog and you want to write a post about how rent control affects the economy, where might you go?

Yes, you can research academic theories about rent control. You can Google “rent control” and see what else is written online about the subject. But one fascinating place you could look is everyday people who actually live in rent-controlled places. Talking to just a handful of these people can give you more insight into how rent control really affects things than reading a dozen articles online.

As you can tell, newspaper and magazine writers tend to get their information from different sources than most online writers. Granted, these methods of researching content take a lot more time and effort. However, if you’re willing to put in that time and effort, you’ll be able to create content that will blow your competition out of the water.

Creating Freebies For Profit – Where Do You Find Them?

When it comes to creating freebies to giveaway there are many different options. So, let’s take a quick look at them now.

Create Your Own Freebies

One of the ways you can come up with a freebie is by creating it yourself. You don’t have to be a writing genius to whip out a short report. You only have to have some basic knowledge to create an audio or video. It really is easy now-a-days to create your own content and if you can, you should. Take into consideration your target market and figure out the type of freebie that will work best with them. But don’t forget to keep your skills and personality in mind too when choosing which freebies you’ll create.

For example, if you’re great at speaking in front of people but not such a patient writer then creating audio and video freebies makes the most sense for you.

PLR

Another way you can create freebies to giveaway is PLR or private label rights which means you buy the rights to the content. Here is a list of some of the forms of PLR content you can purchase and use:

• Ebooks
• Reports
• Articles
• Videos
• Software
• Graphics

This is just a small list, there are other options out there too when it comes to PLR. And a great thing about purchasing PLR is that you can repurpose it and use it in other ways too. For example you could combine several reports to create an eBook bonus for your sales page. A little rebranding and some personalization and PLR makes great freebies.

*These are my top recommendations for quality PLR:

• Customizable Tutorials from Nicole Dean and Melissa Ingold
• Marketing PLR from Alice Seba
• Quality PLR Reports and Article Packs from Nicole Dean
• Self Help PLR from Ronnie Nijmeh

Outsource

Another way you can create freebies is by outsourcing it. You can hire a Virtual Assistant that provides writing services, a ghostwriter, etc. You can also ask fellow business owners who they use to create content.

Partnerships

Earlier we talked about partnerships and the benefits of them, but these are also a great way to get some great freebies. Of course, it’s important that you take the time to review the freebie before you agree to partner or use it. After all, it’s your reputation on the line!

Your Next Steps

Now it’s time for you to make a plan of how you want to use freebies in your business. There are a few questions you need to think about:

• What do you want to accomplish with freebies?
• Do you want to boost profits directly with affiliate links and product promotions?
• Do you want to build your email list for long term potential profits?
• Do you want to drive traffic to your website or build awareness?

Write this information down. It will help you reach your goals and to know the types of freebie products you need to create and what you’re going to do with them.

There are many benefits you can reap from giving away different things like information, products and services. As mentioned earlier in the report, freebies are your ‘foot in the door’ with potential customers and your freebie provides a lot of value, you’re going to make people depend on you for even more information. And they’re also a great way to motivate people to make a purchase. And freebies are also a great way for you to build your brand and establish yourself as an expert.

So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your freebie strategy today!

Donna Kozik, Write a Book in a Weekend creator, is someone I have admired for the past five years. We first met in person at a live event in southern California, and became fast friends as I saw how much she was doing to help others with her trainings for new authors.

She is originally from northwestern Pennsylvania and grew up on a two hundred acre dairy farm. A series of life events led to her moving to San Diego in 2001, and that’s when she wrote 29 Days to a Smooth Move. She landed her in Women’s World and Woman’s Day magazines and opened the doors to a world of possibilities with people asking her how they could also write a book.

Soon after Donna started a Facebook group on how people could write a book in a weekend, leading to her signature training program, aptly named Write a Book in a Weekend. I’ve been through this course and Donna was able to help me change my perspective on the entire process of becoming a successful author. This is Donna’s passion, and it certainly shows as she works her magic to help us get our ideas out of our head and onto the page. She does not believe in the ‘tortured writer’ syndrome, showing people how to write very quickly and become a published author. This program allows her to shepherd you through the process, beginning before the weekend even begins.

Donna surprised me by turning the tables and asking me what becoming a published author has brought to my life, and this gave way to us sharing ideas on how and why this is so important in your life.

We discussed her Gratitude Book Project for 365 Days of Gratitude, in which author’s contribute to an anthology of stories about what they are grateful for. I have been in two of these books and love the exposure and credibility I receive just by answering the question ‘What am I grateful for?’ She describes this ‘keeping gratitude in motion’.

I would encourage you to get started with Donna’s training if you are ready to become a published author. I know you will enjoy this interview to learn more about who should become an author and what it will bring to your life in the future.

Melissa Ingold , marketing expert and online trainer, is a savvy solopreneur I have been following for several years. She lives in Canada with her husband and children while operating her business from a home office. She’s also an expert at partnering and Joint Ventures and continues to be involved in projects with some of the biggest names online.

In this interview Melissa shares her amazing story of starting out in the work force as a single mother without a high school education. She leveraged her situation and had soon risen to the top, when she made the decision to start her own business. Over the years she learned more, gained experience and confidence, and now stands head and shoulders above many other entrepreneurs. Oh, and if you are wondering, she did go back to school to finish her education, making her background even stronger in the process.

Melissa found Kelly McCausey and her Work at Home Mom’s group along the way, and soon they had partnered on a project. She is also currently Nicole Dean’s partner in a site called Coach Glue, which offers customizable tutorials for coaches, consultants, and other online and offline professionals. Melissa and Nicole are revolutionizing the world of PLR – private label rights – content with this site and making it more appealing for those who have not been clear on this concept up until this time.

You will gain a clearer understanding of what it takes to become a successful online entrepreneur by listening to this podcast interview. Be sure to download your free customizable tutorials and put them to work in your own business.

Subscribe To All Interviews In The Podcast Series

Online Marketing Tips Podcast

Have you created your own digital information products? Are you using private label rights content (PLR) in your online marketing? Which forum is the best one to join? In this episode of the Online Marketing Tips Podcast With Connie Ragen Green, my newest podcast series, I discuss these questions and more. The events included in this podcast call were NAMS (Novice to Advanced Marketing Systems) where I have been on the faculty since 2011; Dennis Becker’s Earn 1K a Day seminar and forum where I have spoken the past two years; and my own upcoming event, the Weekend Marketer Live workshop in Las Vegas October 11-13.

My calls are interactive so that you may be heard. During this call I am joined my many of my students who share their questions, concerns, and accomplishments with their online business in regards to attending live marketing events, seminars, and workshops. This time we discussed using article marketing to promote your online business, how to create an irresistible free giveaway, PLR and content creation, how to know when it’s time to set up an autoresponder sequence, tips on getting more Facebook fans, pricing a new information product, using press releases for your marketing, and much more.

This podcast and these online marketing tips are intended to teach you how you can take your business to the next level quickly and effectively, and as a way for me to share my very Case Studies, secrets, and advice on creating a profitable and lucrative online business using the ‘multiple income streams’ approach. Each session is first recorded live as a teleseminar, and then repurposed into a podcast to extend my reach to the world. Please join my list to be included on these calls, and be sure to introduce yourself and share your site for optimal exposure for years to come!

Also, you can now pick up my popular training on winning affiliate contests and other online marketing tips for only seven dollars at Affiliate Contest Secrets. Use the discount code CONTEST to bring the price down to $7. This training has been updated for 2013 with the latest information, strategies, and Case Studies for you to use in your own business.

Becoming an entrepreneur of any type is simply not for everyone. If you are used to having a traditional schedule, weekends off, and a regular paycheck you may not care for having your own business. If, on the other hand, you look forward to being in charge, having the opportunity to earn as much as you want to, and love taking risks on a daily basis, entrepreneurship could be exactly what suits you best. Having an online entrepreneur blueprint helps you to get things going quickly.

Your Online Entrepreneur Blueprint

I was a classroom teacher for twenty years, and also worked as a real estate broker and appraiser on the side during that time. That meant working six or seven days a week, only taking a vacation every third or fourth year, and never feeling like I was living the life I was meant to live. When I discovered that people were making a living on the Internet with information products, affiliate marketing, and online training I knew this was for me.

The question I had to ask myself was this: “Am I willing to do what it takes to become an online entrepreneur?”

Over the next six months I was tested time and time again as I worked hard to put the pieces in place. There was no boss or supervisor checking to see what I had done each day. I earned no money in the very beginning, yet I was having to spend money on domains, web hosting, the teleseminar service, and an autoresponder account. Would it all be worth it?

The answer was a resounding Yes! And now I teach others how to get started with their own Internet businesses.

In order to build a successful business online you must be willing to do what it takes. This means setting up a quiet workspace for yourself at home, scheduling the days and times you will be at work, creating content for your blog and websites, and connecting with others both online and in person. Of course, this is after you have chosen a niche in which to specialize and made sure it is one that will hold your interest for at least the next year.

Next, you must find out what your competition is already selling to this market. Competition is to be respected because this means that people are ready, willing, and able to spend money on a variety of products and services. Join the list of everyone who is currently serving your market to see what they have to say, and become an affiliate for them if they have such a program.

Now it is time for you to make a name for yourself in your chosen niche. Blog as often as possible and say what you think. It’s better to be controversial and speak your mind than to be wishy-washy and go along with everyone else. Read everything you can on your topic, and not just from online sources. Visit your public library and bookstores. See what you already may have on your bookshelves at home. Focus on becoming as knowledgeable as you possibly can on your niche topic, as this is the path to becoming an expert or authority.

The final step is marketing your new online business, and that’s the glue to keeping it all together. I like to market every single day, even weekends and holidays because it makes my business stronger and increases my income. Remember that a single tweet on Twitter is marketing, and that much of your online marketing can be automated, so it’s not like you’ll be sitting in front of your computer seven days a week.

Have fun with the marketing and it will serve you well. Send out email messages to the people who join your list, including links to your blog posts, affiliate offers, and excellent resources. Be active on the ‘Big Three’ social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn) and share your blog posts and other content there as well. It won’t be long before you are thought of as an authority in your niche, and your online business begins to skyrocket. Doing what it takes is your key to success.

I’ve committed myself to doing a three day juice fast. I had watched a movie called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead about a week ago and it inspired me to get moving with my health and fitness regime in a bigger way. This film is a documentary and the narrator, Joe, goes on a sixty day juice fast to lose about a hundred pounds. Even though I need to lose even more than that I thought I’d better begin with something more doable for me, so a three day juice fast will suffice to get me going on this long road ahead.

On Sunday morning I ate a banana and headed out to get my fruits and veggies. I went to my local Farmer’s Market to pick up everything I would need to make my juice. In Santa Clarita they only have a small one, I’m sad to say, as opposed to Santa Barbara where they have a Farmer’s Market seven days a week with lots of choices and a thriving business with lots of clientele. Anyway, fifteen minutes and twenty dollars later I saw that I would have to stop by the grocery store in order to get everything I had on my list. I arrived home with five large bags containing only the fruits and vegetables I would be juicing to drink over the next three days. I was now prepared to reduce about thirty dollars and twenty pounds of produce into a gallon or so of delicious and healthy juice.

Actually locating my juicer was not as easy as I had imagined it would be. It didn’t seem that long, but after enlisting the help of two family members we came to the realization that it had been almost two years since I had made juice. Where did that time go? Putting the juicer all together was a comedy of errors as I was determined to make two pieces fit together, only to finally figure out that one piece belonged to my ice cream maker. That piece had been near the front of my storage cabinet because it has not been two years since I made ice cream.

My counter was strewn with vegetables and fruit of all kinds, including apples, lemon, ginger root, cucumbers, golden beets, spinach, kale, celery, carrots, and even two Asian pears. The plan I’m following calls for approximately eighty percent vegetables and twenty percent fruits, with the emphasis on leafy greens like kale and spinach. I assembled my juicer and got to work.

Because I have juiced sporadically over the years I was keenly aware of a few facts; juicing can be messy, so you must wear old, dark clothes while you work; it’s also loud, so animals and small children must be moved to a quieter area of the house until you are finished; and, don’t do too much tasting while you juice or you’ll make yourself sick. I once juiced apples, carrots, and beets and drank about a quart of it while I worked. I was sick for two days and didn’t make juice again for at least a month. My final tip is to use golden beets instead of red ones because the red beets can permanently stain many things.

It took me about an hour to make a gallon of juice and clean everything up. Next time (I’ll need more juice by tomorrow night) it won’t take as long because I will be better prepared. The juice is very tasty and I had an eight ounce glass to begin with.

So I’ve made it through almost a full day of my three day juice fast. My head hurts, I’m starving, and I have to stay near the bathroom. I’m going to stay positive and hope for tomorrow to be a little better. I can use your encouraging words to keep me on track and moving forward. Also, the next time someone offers you a glass of fresh juice know that it took lots of time and effort to do it and be sure to thank them profusely.

Alice Seba is someone I have followed and learned from for several years now, and I was finally able to spend time with her in person when she attended NAMS in Atlanta recently. Her background includes teaching special education, which explains why she is so skilled at teaching online entrepreneurs how to build their list, create content and more. She came online in 2002, when he son was just a toddler. Now Alice is able to balance work, family, and more because of her online success.

My first experiences with Alice were around the PLR (Private Label Rights) content she creates, and it didn’t take me long to become totally hooked. I now have a lifetime membership for her marketing and business PLR and I use it in just about every aspect of my business.

During our interview I asked Alice many questions about how private label rights content is created and how we can have her and her team create PLR for us on topics we are interested in. We also discussed how she is able to ensure that the content others create for her in truly original. She is a true professional when it comes to helping entrepreneurs and small business owners grow their business with fresh, relevant, and high quality content.

Alice also shared her ideas on how you can get started if this is your first year working online. We all started out at some point, so it’s a great opportunity to hear another person’s perspective. She has a unique take on this business, having been online for more than ten years now.

She was kind enough to offer a complimentary package of her marketing PLR when you sign up at her main site. I highly recommend everything Alice has to offer, including her training courses, programs, and of course, her private label right content.