Initially, I started blogging back in 2004 in order to help promote our business, with Dave providing the graphics, imagery and ads. Over time, my passion for blogging grew exponentially; the simple act of sharing information that has a very good chance of influencing positive change in the world... That is an incredible feeling! When I see the stats showing me that people around the world are finding our blogs, it really feeds https://hackaday.io/project/186651-i-upgrade-the-kame-robot my soul - it is like a jolt of coffee for me. I get all jazzed up and inspired and want to do more, and more and more.
I've studied marketing for some time in business management classes, forums and communication boards or groups, online radio shows, blogs and every book I could get my hands on from 1994-present, one is always learning. I have discovered that there are a lot of techniques and tools involved in effectively managing a blog.
Most blog service providers like Blogspot or WordPress will allow the owner to create unique images and design, making the blog more distinctive. Once we go now decided the theme of our business and desired reputation, we were able to then choose the colors, graphics, text and imagery that will reflect that our business.
I learned in marketing classes that the business needs to be instantly recognizable, so that is why our pages on social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.), blog and website have similar themes. We use nature imagery and colors (blue, green, brown). At the same time it is important to keep each site slightly different so that you are targeting that particular audience directly. It is an interesting challenge for sure. Luckily I have my graphic and web savvy husband to create just the right look for us.
Everything we do cross references to everything else. For instance: The Brummet's Conscious Blog has links to our social media outlets, author page on amazon, Dave's drum studio, our music blog and to our website. It also has several pages that people can find by clicking the tabs just below the header. A Media Page (offers links to recent media appearances), a page for http://forum.kpn-interactive.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=117429&p=170259 product reviews and the 'about us' page can be found there. We also put together a special page for the local area, connecting volunteers with opportunities for new experiences. Similarly the BrummetMedia.ca website links to our social media, blogs, etc. Every blog post has little social networking "share" buttons, so I always utilize those as well. I'll post on social media and social networking groups, send out invites for submissions, make efforts to highlight special appearances, or to create awareness about an event.
These days I spend a lot less time blogging than I ever have - by choice. In the beginning I was probably doing about 10 hours a week working on the behind the scenes activities from dealing with queries to writing, scheduling and uploading daily posts, searching for content or writing it. I spend a few days per month, scheduling posts, often 5-6 months in advance, and then drop in once every few days as needed to manage comments, check out the stats, etc.
To see what we have done, check out our two blogs:
Brummet's Conscious Blog's topics center on promoting conscious, green, proactive and positive lifestyle. We hope to inspire our readers, helping them realize the value of their efforts to make the world a better place. We offer networking opportunities in the form of publishing submitted articles, poems, announcements and resources or our product review services.
Dave and I also have a second blog for drummers and percussionists: where readers will find quotes, articles, interviews, product reviews, amusing stories, memes and more.
When you are writing a blog it is important to understand who your target market is and to acknowledge them whenever you can. Hollywood producers have been doing this forever! Blog writing is no different. You are typically writing a blog to get fans. Fans are people who read every single post you write and usually leave a comment. It doesn't matter if the fan is being positive or negative, as long as you have people reading your blog and commenting, they can be considered as fans. Some blogs are literally held together by these unrelenting fans who stick with the blog writer until the very end. Think of your fans as your most loyal customers and treat them as such.
If you don't know who your target market is, then you really should not be writing blogs. If you have a rough idea about who your target market is, but can't narrow it down, then try a variety of references and see which one the market responds to. For example, if I am writing a blog about a violent video game there is a high chance the readers will have an interest in violent movies. I might use this piece of information to include a reference to an upcoming Tarantino movie. This does 4 things. It lets the readers know I am just like them, that I understand them, that I am up-to-date on current events and it will also get my blog into search results when the movie comes out. The latter is another little tip that I'll chuck in as a bonus for you loyal article readers.
Any kind of blog can have references that their target market will respond to. Someone who blogs about new ways to cook chicken might include a reference to a related episode of Oprah. This is where creativity comes into play. These "references" could even make your blog stand out and reach a wider audience. Writing a blog about a boring book review might put readers to sleep, but if you throw a reference to the possibility of that book being turned into a movie starring Tom Hanks, then you instantly have some great reading material on your hands. The references you include in your blog can be funny, informative or just plain silly. The type of reference you include will typically be on par with your https://www.coolspringsconstructiontn.com/forum/general-discussions/2348166580486-i-want-to-join-secret-illuminati-occult-in-turkey style of blog voice (see Blog Writing Tips 1).
Finally, when you make a reference, it's a good idea to add a hyperlink (if you got the information online). The link shows that you are not just making stuff up, as well as crediting the original sources, which is quite possibly the most important rule of the blogworld.
In conclusion...
- Identify fans of your blog. Whether they be positive or negative. Treat them as loyal customers.
- Throw in as many relevant references to culture, news or current events as possible to keep the target market interested. If you can't work out what references to use then try different ones and see which one the readers respond to the most. Make sure these references are in line with your blog voice style. i.e. A funny blog writer will include funny references that are often silly and trivial.
- If you got the reference from an online source, please add a hyperlink and properly credit your source. The referenced website will see your link and hopefully network with your blog.