Creating great content is only the first step in attracting visitors and boosting conversions. People have to be informed about the existence blog posts and articles. CoSchedule, an editorial calendar and social media planner for sites running WordPress, saves time and frustration when it comes to getting content seen. I've tried many scheduling tools for blog posts, and … [Read more...]
6 Reasons Every Business Needs a Blog
No matter what you sell, or your target audience, your website needs a blog. A blog will help you connect with existing and potential customers, and provide a means for a steady inflow of traffic for years to come. While creating and maintaining a blog requires work, the long-term benefits are worth the sweat and the money. That's because, like everything else on the … [Read more...]
At a Loss for Content? Look to Your Customers…
Ask any successful company's manager or owner what's the driving force behind their success, and he or she will tell you: "our customers". If you're not letting your customers, as well as potential customers, play a key role in content generation, you're missing out on sales. While asking customers what they want is a great way to open the stream of communication, there is … [Read more...]
Small Biz Needs to See the Big Picture, and Look Beyond
Decades ago children learned about neat toys and gadgets by watching Saturday morning cartoons. Parents learned what was safe and worth their money from key publications like Consumer Reports, as well as from local shop owners. When I was a kid, there was more trust in advertising, and salesmen, though still trained to "push" products, seemed to know more about how things … [Read more...]
H 2 Oh? How Little Changes Can Accomplish a Lot
Clean water. It's a staple in every living being's life. And yet, so many are doing without. There are more than 4,200 bloggers writing about water today as part of Blog Action Day 2010, many of whom are bringing attention to the filth other countries find in their drinking water, and how there's a dire need abroad for clean, potable water. I have opted to take a different … [Read more...]
Want More Comments? Can the Registration
There's a reason why you won't see me commenting much at some high-profile sites. They require registration. Count me among those who feel registration is just another word for "prepare to be frustrated" when it comes to commenting on a story or blog post. Sadly, so many sites still don't get it... Here are the top reasons people don't comment at sites that require … [Read more...]
Microblogging Extreme
TechCrunch writer Paul Carr thanked readers for social media memories last month when he announced the complete shutdown of all his social accounts. Yes, that includes Facebook and Twitter. He compares reliance on microblogging (like tweeting rather than actually blogging) to becoming a digital recluse. He also shared his thoughts on Leo Laporte's angst over a mishap with … [Read more...]
10 Quick Ways to Get More Traffic
If you're like me, you've already read scores of posts and articles telling you how to get more traffic to your web site or online store. The problem is, most articles include methods that are cumbersome, time consuming, cost additional money or simply don't make sense. To those saying we need to stop everything we're doing and adopt all new strategies, I say phooey. Chances … [Read more...]
The Reality of Blogging for Sales
In May 2010, I posted tips on Blogging for Sales. Since then, many clients and visitors have asked for more posts on this topic. After all, small business ecommerce sites commonly have to pull extra weight to compete with the big dogs. This includes using methods to keep people inside the web site, especially when it comes to wanting to know more about what you sell and related … [Read more...]
Should I Offer RSS Feeds?
There's debate over whether using Real Simple Syndication (RSS) for a business site's blog or articles is beneficial. Some argue it keeps avid RSS subscribers away from the sites the articles are meant to promote, while others say these feeds do more for business than simply publishing content on a single domain. Previous action against an app in the iPhone catalog by the New … [Read more...]
Blogging for Sales
Hosting a product or store-related blog not only inspires shopper interaction, but done right, it can help increase overall sales. There are some key strategies, though, and without them, you're probably wasting a great deal of time. … [Read more...]