Blogging For Business With Social Networks 2010 Edition

www.ForwardProgress.net(877) 592-6224

Blogging for

Business


Facebook Fan Pages

• Founder and CEO of Forward Progress• Over 25 years in business Coaching and Consulting• Campaign Development in Social Media• Call Center, Internet, eMarketing, Event Management, • Intense Lead Generation, Web Seminars, eSelling• Over Billion Dollars Sales, 25 Million Leads, Coach and

Trained Thousands of People using Internet Based Lead Generation

• Financial Services, Real Estate, Professional Services, Legal, Accounting, Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Technical, Insurance, Agencies, Auto, Retail, Banking and Channel Sales…..

Dean DeLisle – Social Media Specialist


What is Blogging?

A blog (a contraction of the term "Web log") is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.


Why blog?A blog can be an incredible

tool for sharing information and expertise.

A blog can be used to directly promote products, services and events.

A blog can assist in promoting company vision and developments.

A blog can foster customer loyalty, build relationships with clients and customers.


Why blog?A blog can garner

feedback and suggestions from clients

A blog can give customers information on how to use products, services and how to buy.

A blog can develop client community around a product.


Weaving Your Own Web

• The Magic Thread…..Activity!

Dean

Bob Joe Karen Beth

Kim Bev

Dave SamPat

Dan

Why blog?


Getting Started

A basic precept of any business is just as essential with your blog. It's critical to pinpoint your audience and, in the process, decide what you're going to say that will make them read what you write.

Identify your audience.


Getting Started

Next up is determining where to locate your blog. There are numerous software packages that let you add a blog section to an existing Web site. A more automated and perhaps easier option is a blog hosting site (with a link from your Web site bringing visitors over).

Decide where your blog should live

www.WordPress.com is a great site to set-up your blog.


Getting Started

Invite Comments Ask Questions Be Open Ended Interact with comments left Be humble Be gracious ‘Reward’ Comments Make it Easy to Comment Invite “Expert” Guests

Ways to Increase Comments on Your Blog


Getting Started

Search engine hits are another element of generating traffic.

One strategy to attract search engine interest is through careful use of keywords in both your headlines and blog copy.

Emphasize keywords


Getting Started

Study your website, content and target and list an effective set of keywords that are “Relevant” to your objective.

This how people would search for your target!

Emphasize keywords


Getting Started

Nothing is more discouraging to prospective readers than returning to a blog site to find old or outdated material. So, be prepared to work at keeping your blog as fresh and current as possible.

Have a system – empower the team!

Keep it fresh


Getting Started

Monitor the amount and quality of the traffic you receive. If things seem slow or stagnant, don't be afraid to vary your themes or subjects to boost interest.

But don't stray too far from your business or expertise.

Watch your traffic closely


Writing ContentUltimately defining what is ‘good content’ is a subjective exercise (perhaps in a similar way to defining what is a ‘good book’ or a ‘good movie’) and so a post is likely to cause a little debate as each person will define it differently depending upon their personality, their needs, the topic that they are talking about and perhaps even their ethics.

Not only will bloggers themselves each have a different view on what is ‘good’ content - but readers tend to also.


Writing Content

For a blog to be successful your content needs to be useful and unique to your readers.Start with the customer or prospect - find out what they want and give it to them.

Be Unique and Useful

Perhaps the best advice on developing useful content is to research your readership (or potential readership).


Writing ContentThey Are Hungry for Knowledge

Writing for your targetDOES NOT mean writingabout the products andservices you sell them

Write about the things theywant to learn about


Remember Variety is the Key!


Writing ContentBe the Thought Leader

Should establish as a thought leader

When starting put time into your plan and posts

This will reflect your reputation


Writing Content

Survey customers, look a lot at other blogs on a topic (especially the comments section to see what types of questions people are asking) and particularly look hard in forums and discussion groups on topics where there is usually a lot of question asking going on.

As you do this you’ll begin to put your finger on what people are wanting and what you might be able to provide to meet these needs.

Researching


Search for BlogsWriting Content


Writing Content

EverywhereOther blogsKeep a listWhen you learn something, flesh it outCheck your email outboxAsk your readers/friendsGreat speech’sHot relevant news

Hidden Areas


Writing Content

A great way to see what other blogs are talking about in your industry is to subscribe to them using and RSS reader. There are many RSS reader tools available from Google Reader to Feed Demon.

RSS Readers will update you when there is new content on a blog.

Subscribe to other blog feeds via RSS


Writing Content

Do some analysis on what sort of content other bloggers in your industry are producing. In most niches you’ll find that sites are all presenting very similar information in pretty much the same voice, tone and style.

You can either replicate what they are doing and try to do it better OR you can distinguish yourself in someway from what others are doing.

Distinguish yourself


Writing Content

Put Effort into Your Headings500 words (or shorter!)Lists are OK (just not too many)1 idea per postDon’t over engineer

Couple of Simple Rules


Measure your response

WordPress has some great statistical data. Check it after each post. Measure which posts receive the highest reader count. Check which keywords where used to find you blog.


Let’s Get Social – Get Read

Facebook

Go Direct – OR

Ping.FM

Hootsuite


Getting Found Through The Web

Post to multiple Twitter Accounts

Set feed url Prepend all of

your tweets Set frequency of

postings

Post to Twitter & Facebook

http://hootsuite.com

With HootSuite you can:



Post to multiple Social Accounts

Shorten URL’s Not as Fancy

Post to Twitter & Facebook & LinkedIn &……

http://hootsuite.com

WithPing.FMyou can:



A “Share Button” allows visitors to share

your information on multiple networks and

through email

Use a Share Button on Each Post

http://www.addtoany.com/buttons/for/wordpress_com


www.CenterCars.com ---- Post to your social sites!


Best Practices

Make your opinion known Link like crazy Write less 250 Words is enough Make Headlines snappy Write with passion Litter the post with keywords

Include Bullet point listsEdit your postMake your posts easy to

scan Be consistent with your

styleCreate a systemLink to Your Social Sites


1. Define a target audience2. Research competition blogs3. Research what customers are looking for4. Define your Blog Team5. Categories6. Agree on Keywords7. Discuss Schedule8. Get Social

Assignment


Upcoming ClassesHow to Setup and Promote Your Business

using LinkedIn Less Than 20 Min a Day - 2010 Edition$99 - Starts Thursday – 6 Sears Left2 – Part Class – Recorded & Livewww.linkedin99.eventbrite.com

How to Setup and Promote Your Business using Facebook Fan Pages – 2010 Edition$99 - Starts April 22 – Just Opened2 – Part Class – Recorded & Livewww.facebook4biz99.eventbrite.com


Let’s Connect!TWITTER: www.twitter.com/deandelisleFACEBOOK: www.Facebook.com/deandelisleFAN PAGE:

www.Facebook.com/ForwardProgressLINKEDIN: www.LinkedIn.com/deandelisle

[email protected]