We all know Marco Polo and we remember him as a famous explorer. However, he was not really an explorer. He was a merchant from Venice. Why do we remember him as an explorer? We remember him today – 700 years later – because he did one thing that none of the other merchants of the day did – he wrote about his travels.
The fact that we even remember Marco Polo today is because he was a writer.
Here are some ideas on where to gain exposure for your excellent blog posts. A blog post not found and therefore not read did not contribute to anyone. You want your blog posts to gain the attention of your ideal audience. You want your posts to add value. Therefore, to promote your blog posts after you publish them is fundamental to your blogging success.
OK – Where to promote . . .
When I teach a class on blogging many questions are asked that relates to the “style” of the post. Though the latitude related to blog post style allows for great freedom and flexibility there may be some things that you will want to think about in some detail and make sure you address them with each post. Keep in mind that it is also important to establish your own style and to have confidence in it.
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Here is my breakdown.
Most blogging platforms–like WordPress–provide you with the ability to assign tags to your posts. I will refer to these as “blog post tags” so as not to confuse you with other tags (H Tags or Meta Tags for example). To tag a post properly can help your readers and your SEO. Here is some advice.
Good bloggers work from a plan. This plan defines content that the blogger feels will be of interest to their audience and provides value to readers. It make things easier and more effective to work from a plan. In the long run a plan makes your blog better and saves you time.
Here are 7 ideas that I recommend you consider for your blog content marketing plan. You will have better content which leads to improved SEO, higher authority and more and better business!
Keep your Business Blog Relevant and FreshIt is vital to keep your blog up-to-date and to have it present fresh and interesting content.
You need have to keep your blog updated regularly to keep visitors interested.
Here are a few other reasons to keep your blog fresh . . .
Ten Creative Blogging IdeasWriting a business blog can be a great deal of fun. However, it will not seem like fun when you don’t have a good idea for a blog post. When I am stumped for an idea I take a step back and think about how I can be more creative. The ideas just seem to flow when I focus on being creative rather than trying to think of a specific blog topic.
The assumption of this blog post is that you, the reader, are an authority in your niche. To be a successful blogger you do need to have enough background knowledge and expertise that you can create interesting, valuable and delightful content – again, with a focus on your niche.
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If you cannot create valuable content then don’t even get into the race. You will only have a chance with poor content if there is a void of content within the niche-focus area. But even if there is a void of content in your niche you cannot present yourself as an authority with poor content. Therefore, great content is a given. The real point I am making is that if there is an abundance of high-quality content in your niche then it is difficult to get exposure and the real task is then to create movement for your content.
You produce great content now you are ready for the race.
What do you do? The race is to gain exposure for your content.
These are my four steps for creating maximum impact for your message:
1. Creation
My blog is the heart of my content. I construct up ideas there. It is a place I can send people to so that they can benefit and then share. My posts are the foundation for all my other content. My blog is central to my content marketing strategy.
2. Syndication
Look for ways to publish your blog content in a variety of other formats and channels. You can change popular posts into podcasts, videos, or magazine articles. Be true to your core message and ideas. Change the format and extend your reach. Develop a distribution strategy that makes sense for you and your business.
3. Repurpose
Your best blog content can be reused, expanded and combined. Consider books, webinars, courses, and even membership content. Always refine, enhance, and expand. This can be a path to monetization.
4. Participation
Delightful content creates community. People want to share and talk about what they have read, heard, or seen. Moreover, they want to engage with the content creator – that can be cool! Use social media to engage communities that can benefit from your content. Don’t be that “sale person” who is always promoting something – look for ways to add genuine value. You need to have an engagement strategy.
If you spend the time to create delightful content (step #1) then spend time on steps 2-4 to create more impact for your content. Engagement with others is rewarding and fun!
The short answer is to not to use too many blog topic tags for any given blog post and to have them focused on the blog post topic. The full answer allows you to really boost up the SEO value of your posts and to help engage your readers and to keep them on your site longer.
