don’t blog alone

Now, why would you want to do that? The point of blogging is to start and be part of a conversation (and not with yourself). Successful blogs share information, provide guidance, make people think and create relationships. Blogging is networking – each blogger reaching out from their own piece of the internet.

Here’s how to not blog alone:

1. Ask questions on your blog, write as if you are having a conversation, reach out to your audience.

2. Read other blogs. What are other people blogging about – in your industry, in tangent industries, in your areas of interest?

3. Comment on other people’s blogs. Let them know you were there. Sure, they have stats that count visitors, but that is so cold and mathematical – there is nothing like hearing from real people. I have met some of the most wonderful people by starting conversations with other bloggers.

4. Spread the word. Participate in social networking and social bookmarking sites – tell us what’s good and what’s not, let your opinion be heard. Do it – if you see something good, share it…many blogs have bookmarking shortcuts right there at the end of their posts (see below for a stunning example of this technique).

5. Be nice. No one likes a negative, mean-spirited, rude, self-serving, spamming creature. If you don’t like something, that’s fine…walk away quietly and don’t come back – that’s your prerogative. You can have differing opinions, but don’t hurt people.

6. Keep writing. One of my favorite business coaches, Bonnie Marcus, talks about ‘connecting with passion and purpose’ – she’s talking about sales, but I like to apply it to blog writing/authoring. If you write with purpose about your passions, you will attract people with the same passion and purpose (or at least a good dose of respect for your passion and purpose).

7. Give good blog. Seriously, good content, real information and the pursuit of conversation and community – these things bring bloggers together.

What did I forget? You tell me, how do you not blog alone?

Filed under How To, Networking | Tags: blog, Blogging, commenting, copywriter, copywriting, Julie Roads, online marketing, post, Social Media, social networking, web pages, websites, Writing Roads | Comment (1)

does google know everything that i do online?

Ummmm….Yes. Your internet participation is recorded in total for better or for worse: web pages, blogs, comments, emails (in some cases), reviews, social network pages, profiles…and on and on.

• When people talk about you, it is duly noted and forever findable.
• When you talk, it is duly noted and forever findable.

For Better.

1. This increases your site ranking, your visibility, your importance in the web world.

2. People can find you, in other words, your searchability also shoots up.

For Worse.

1. Everything is recorded – this means even emails in some cases – depending on the sort of server they exist on (for instance, some community servers are live, online and searchable).

2. People change, grow up, get smarter…but those old emails, web pages, blogs, comments are cached and keep hanging on.

What to do.

Well, you can erase cached pages, but I’ve heard it’s a pain. Better yet, look ahead. Be very mindful of your web presence. Think before you speak/write/post/share/comment. Without becoming a paranoid freak, try to remember that people will see what you do online…

Remember, web participation is vital to online marketing, so don’t stop…just interact responsibly.

Filed under How To | Tags: blog, Blogging, cached pages, commenting, copywriter, copywriting, Google, Julie Roads, online marketing, personal profiles, post, Social Media, social networking, web pages, websites, Writing Roads | Comment (0)

Networking all the time…

We were up in Boston this weekend – and I purposefully and painfully left my computer at home with the intention of not working. But people looking for marketing and websites and blogs just appear before me…it’s fantastic.

The truth is that these potential clients ‘just appear’ for everyone, all the time. But, you have to be looking, or at least you have to have your eyes open. I didn’t think I was finding them on purpose, but then I thought about it a little more, and realized that I am doing some things…here they are:

1. Ask. Whenever I meet someone new, I ask them questions. ‘What do you do?’ is most often the first and it leads to many others, ‘how do you market that?’, ‘do you have a website?’, ‘do you spend time on the internet?’ Find out who this person is business-wise and beyond.

2. Listen. You won’t get anywhere if you don’t listen to their answers. The connection between you and them exists in their answers, when they tell you what they want, when they tell you what never works.

3. Talk. When you ask someone what they do, they’re going to ask you the same thing. Be ready to tell them exactly what you do in a compelling and concise way. An ‘elevator speech’ if you will. The chances of you talking to someone in your exact profession are slim, so they will probably be intrigued that you can do something they can’t – like writing and navigating the web, in my case.

4. Friends and Family. Interesting, but true. I get a lot of business because my friends and family are good at singing my praises. When one of them hears of someone looking for writing, a website or any sort of marketing, they have no qualms about thrusting me in front of the person shouting, “Julie does that! You have to talk to HER!”

5. Love What You Do. I’m told that my passion and excitement for writing, web networking and marketing are magnetic. This thrills me because my work thrills me. Every person and potential client is a master puzzle waiting for the greatest solution. Too much fun.

Filed under Networking, The Business | Tags: blog marketing, Blogging, blogs, copywriter, copywriting, internet marketing, Julie Roads, Networking, web content, websites, Writing | Comment (0)