Posts Tagged ‘blogging’

With a title like that I’ve really put the pressure on myself to make this one good!  But I’m not scared, because I have a system. A system for writing great blog posts!

Follow these guidelines and soon you'll be using this pic on the front page of YOUR blog!

If you’ve been following this blog in chronological order (you learned how to install wordpress, then how to optimize wordpress, and finally followed the steps of how to style wordpress) you might be thinking, “Great Jeff, I have an optimized, stylized, bloggified, googlized, amped-up, plugged-in, slamma, bamma, jamma, in-yo-face, momma-betta-be-in-her- place blog! But I’ve got nothing in it. Now I have to fill it up with great posts.  How in the world wide web do I do that!?!?”

Well have no fear, follow my 2.5 Ways to Write a GUARANTEED Killer Blog Post and you’ll be well on your way to a happy following!

**Author’s note**: There are more than 2.5 ways to crush it with your blog posts.  These are just a few good ones. I’ve asked people to comment below with their own secrets to killer blog posts.

#1 – Write your posts using numbered lists

What do I mean by this? Offer “5 ways”, “7 tips”, “28 to do’s” for your readers on whatever topic strikes your fancy. People react to these much better (we’ve tested this many times) than just about any other types of headlines. They are easy (both to read and to write), they are fun, and they often read like a check list. People like check lists.

How to Style WordPress

Using Plug-ins and Widgets

Jeff McLeod

Jeff@JeffMcLeod.ca

Powerpoint accompanying this article

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Copy of WordPress with all my favorite plugins already included

In this article I’m talking about:

1. Setting up the Look and Feel
2. Setting up Social Media/Social Networking

This is my little list of things I think you should download and how I think you should configure them. To understand my thinking watch the video at http://jeffmcleod.ca showing you how and why I choose all of this. Also you can download all of these plug-ins in one file from the website.

1. Set-up the Look and Feel
   1. Delete the example comment and post

1. Go to Appearance->Themes->Add New: Upload (or you can see what WP has to offer). Activate the theme

1. i.     Go into the FTP and change the logo to the client’s logo (wp-content/themes/themename/images/client-logo.png)

1. Note: this is only if you are using the templates that I provide at http://jeffmcleod.ca
2. ii.     Go to Appearance->Editor: Header and ctrl-f for ‘client-logo.png’.
3. iii.     Make the file path the same as the path of the logo you just uploaded
4. iv.     Save changes
5. Go to Plug-ins->Add New, search for “Excerpts Deluxe”. Install and activate.
   1. i.     Set “Cutoff after:” to 200 words
   2. Set-up Social Media/Bookmarking
      1. Go to Plug-ins->Add New and search for “Share This”, install and activate

How to Optimize WordPress

Using Plug-ins

Jeff McLeod

Jeff@JeffMcLeod.ca

In this article I’m talking about:

1. Setting up Anti-spamming
2. Setting up Search Engine Optimization
3. Setting up Mobile Functionality

Powerpoint accompanying this article

Get a .doc copy of this post

Copy of WordPress with all my favorite plugins already included

This is my little list of things I think you should download and how I think you should configure them. To understand my thinking watch the video at http://jeffmcleod.ca showing you how and why I choose all of this. Also you can download all of these plug-ins in one file from the website.

1. Set-up Anti-spamming
   1. Go to settings->general->membership: uncheck “anyone can register”
   2. Go to settings->discussions->other comment settings: uncheck “Users must be logged in and registered to comment”
   3. Go to settings->discussions->before a comment appears: uncheck “Admin must always approve comment” and uncheck “Comment author must have a previously approved comment”
      1. i.     Save changes
2. Go to Plug-ins and activate Akismet (if the plug-in isn’t installed search for it under Plug-ins->add new).
   1. i.     Once installed, activate the plug-in. It will tell you that a key needed.  Follow the link to get a Key.
   2. ii.     Choose personal use if you want to use it for free.  Otherwise pay for it.  Retrieve the key from your email and input it into wordpress.
   3. Set-up SEO
      1. Go to Settings->permalinks and select custom.  Set it to “/%postname%

In this article I’m talking about:

1. Downloading WordPress
2. Uploading it to your site
3. Setting up the database
4. Configuring your wordpress installation
5. Logging into wordpress

Powerpoint accompanying this article

Get a .doc copy of this post

Copy of WordPress with all my favorite plugins already included

This is my little list of things I think you should download and how I think you should configure them. To understand my thinking watch the video at http://jeffmcleod.ca showing you how and why I choose all of this. Also you can download all of these plug-ins in one file from the website.

1. Download WordPress
   1. Google “download wordpress”
   2. It’s free
   3. I am sticking to 2.9.2 for now (you can download this from me at http://jeffmcleod.ca )
   4. Upload WordPress to your site
      1. Log in to FTP site
      2. I like to use FileZilla, but do as you please
      3. Copy entire folder contents onto FTP
      4. I recommend the root folder
      5. If you use a deeper folder it will be in all of your URLs (ie www.yourdomain.com/downloads/stuff/wordpress/…, not cool)
         1. i.     Also, you won’t be able to post any pages to the homepage)
2. Rename folder to whatever you want (ie blog, membership)
3. Set-up Database
   1. Log in to cPanel
   2. Go to mySQL Databases
   3. Create new database
   4. I use the folder name, you can use whatever you want
   5. Create new user
   6. At this stage I always use admin

We’ve all seen a variety of different blogs and blog posts. The simple truth is that some are great and some just bore you to death. What’s the difference between a homerun post and a post that just fizzles out? Here are 6 tips for writing blog posts that will shine!

1. Offer Value: Blog posts are all about valuable and relevant content. Don’t use your blog post to push a sale onto the reader. Just offer them value in your blog post. If you offer them value first they will be open to hear your sales pitch later.

2. Stay Relevant: Mix it up with your blog posts. Talk about relevant issues and topics that you know your readers are interested in. Don’t talk about the exact same topic day in and day out. Variety is the spice of life! Try covering a entire spectrum of topics that your readers may be interested in.

3. Give Them More: Provide links to other valuable blogs, articles, and websites for your readers that relate to your post. Content is king and the more value your content has the better chance your blog post has to
succeed.

4. Picture Perfect: Always include a picture or two in your blog post. Nothing will turn people off faster than a big blank block of text. Throw in a few relevant pictures or screenshots of what you’re talking about.

This blog post was written by Andy Horner on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 6:03PM

As a salesperson, your blog is at the heart of the value you offer your customers. It’s the “open 24 hours” expertise hub, where your customers can gain wisdom, advice, and solutions that will help them make more money. The value of your blog posts influences their appreciation for you and their loyalty to your personal brand. Your blog helps separate you from your competitors – you know, the order-takers. It’s the platform where you slowly but surely establish yourself as a guiding force and go-to leader in your market.

But first, you must build a readership from your customer base and your social media network. If you promote it, they will come!
Start promoting your blog…

1. In your ezine and emails. After you add a new post to your blog, it’s time to promote it. Feature it in your next ezine or email it in a Branded Email from Ace of Sales. Ask your recipients to post a comment and make sure you include a subscription link to your blog’s RSS feed, so they can get your blog posts as soon as you post them.

2. In partner ezines. Chances are, several of your partners are forward-thinking enough to publish their own ezine too. Offer to promote them in your ezine, for the opportunity to publish your article (one of your blog posts) in theirs. A little back-scratching will help you fill up your ezine and give you exposure to a new contact base.

Blogs have come a long way from just allowing browsers to express their feelings to marketing their business. It has now emerged has a strong tool to advertise and attract potential buyers. It plays an essential role in reaching out to large number of masses spread across the world. Right from teenagers to oldies all find it interesting to read blogs that entertains or works like a resource of knowledge and news. With the right use of blogging trend, one can certainly enjoy wide visibility on the web.

Blogs as a marketing tool has immense power to grab attention of genuine and potential business associates and customers. Here is how you can make the best of blogs and refine your current marketing message.

Know What Others Write About You

Before you take to blogging remember there are thousands of them expressing their views in their personal blogs. With blogs giving the freedom to express their personal views about anything about anyone can have both positive and negative impact on your organization. Before you get your ideas and concept in your blog check what others have said or written about you. If already there is good content to support you, you are on safer side. However if you find out even a single person speaking negative about your business and has good numbers of followers, chances are there that you already have negative publicity. Thus your action plan now should be to draft a blog that will wash off all the negativity spoken by a particular blog.

Understand What You Want From Your Blog