While we are learning about linking to posts of other bloggers, let’s not forget about our own amazing articles. Day 8 of the Blog Challenge has taught us how important it is to link to our own posts. Before I knew about this challenge I wrote  a couple posts about blogging, so it would make sense that I would link to those posts today. As I mentioned earlier, when all is said and done (or maybe before) I will make a separate link for all the posts about better blogging.  My earlier posts will fit in nicely with all the challenge posts. So I went to work tonight and linked the 2 older posts to the blogging challenge posts. It’s now a nice little chain of ‘See See See’. Start with Three Blog Writing Tips and you will know what I mean.

Somehow August has turned to September but left me behind. I am writing this on Thursday which is actually day 9 of the challenge. And by the time I actually hit the Publish button, it may have turned into day 10. So yes, I must confess, I have fallen behind with the challenge and blog writing because of our trip to Iowa. Have no fear, I will catch-up over the long weekend. Indeed, I will be laboring on Labor Day. Considering last year I was cleaning ALL the carpets in my house Labor Day weekend, I am confident this year’s weekend will be less wear and tear on my muscles and a bit more fun than last year’s.

So why is it good practice to link to your own articles? It’s a well proven fact that search engines like links. They especially like links to other sites but links within your site are appealing as well. Links within your own blog also keep visitors on your site longer, giving them more chance to get to know you and your writing.

But the best reason to link to your own articles is to give your readers added information and that is what your blog is all about, is it not? You want your readers to value time spent on your site and wish to return. You want to make your site ‘sticky’.

Take a look at your posts to find possible links. There are plug-ins that will do some of this for you but that’s another blog post subject. Nothing can replace the manual method. It will be easier for me now that I have caught up. If you get started right away, you will be in the habit of linking and you won’t need to go back. Always think of how you can make reading and navigating easier for your readers.

Hey – I can hit Publish before midnight!

Written by Laura on September 2nd, 2010 |  Posted in Blogging

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Our blogging challenge assignment for Day 6 was to read several established blogs and prominent bloggers and learn, learn, learn. I was on the road for most of the day yesterday so I’ll have to catch-up on that reading later on.

For several years now my husband has attended the huge farm show held either in Iowa or Illinois at the end of August and I go along for the ride. We usually find a little something to do and make a mini-vacation out of it. Five years ago we took off a whole week and spent a day in Springfield, much of it at the newly opened Lincoln Museum. I’m not really into museums, but that place is amazing. If you ever get the chance, check it out. We also went to St. Louis, to the arch and a boat ride on the Mississippi. I remember well that it was 5 years ago because every minute of the news in our motel was about Hurricane Katrina.

I am writing today from a motel room in Iowa Falls, IA. I spent the day catching-up on webinars and other learning materials, while my husband was at the farm show. Every year he goes to the show and I get work done in the motel. I’ve been to those shows years ago and I really wouldn’t mind going again, but really, in my opinion, when you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Perhaps one of these years if I’m caught up on work, I will go.

Now if I don’t get writing about the subject at hand, he will be back and I won’t get it done today. Day 7 is about linking to another blogger’s article. I do that quite often. I will normally take an article, re-write it by adding my thoughts or just use the most important parts, and then I will link to it, to give credit where credit is due, of course.

You can see examples in several of my posts. I was going to list them here but realized there are many. Perhaps it’s better if you just look through all my posts to date (and future) and check out the posts with links. You will see how I sometimes use parts verbatim, and sometimes just refer to an article. But always give credit to the author.

This is a good practice in blogging because it extends exposure to my posts. When I tweet the posts, I will @tweet them to whoever I have borrowed from. They will know I used their material. It is a compliment for them and extends their visibility. If my article is retweeted, so is theirs.

By using material from other more experienced bloggers in my field, I am also lending credibility to myself, showing I am keeping up with what is going on in my market.

Add in the search engine benefits that come from linking to other sites, and we have a winning formula for ultimate online visibility!

So go out and find some great bloggers who write about what you write about and follow them, get to know their sites, and then share their expertise with the world through your blog. There is no need to always come up with original material, which makes life so much easier!

Happy Blogging!

See Quickly Writing Day 8 Before Today Turns Into Day 10!

Written by Laura on August 31st, 2010 |  Posted in Blogging

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I know there are lots of people out there who are content and happy as long as they can fly under the radar. Bloggers are most likely not in that group of folks. We WANT to be noticed. We NEED to be noticed.

I have had more comments on my posts this week because of the blog challenge than I’ve had in the 3 months since my blog’s inception. The added bonus of the challenge is it’s helping me find new blogs and bloggers find me. My simple brain had not thought of that outcome when this all started. I wish I had more time right now to explore more blogs but I’m making a point of getting to as many as I possibly can.

Consider how you feel when someone writes something really nice and encouraging on your blog. I received such a comment today from Melanie of Solo Mompreneur. Of course I responded to her comment and checked out her blog. I had not yet noticed her in the challenge but that surely changed today! I’m now follower her on Twitter as well and see she has retweeted my posts. Wow – it just keeps getting better.

My new goal is to take the time to comment on others’ blogs. I’ve done that some in the past, but not enough. Perhaps I can encourage someone like Melanie encouraged me today.

To close out this post, I’d like to send you to an article written by Darren Rowse of ProBlogger titled 10 Techniques to Get More Comments on Your Blog. It’s an oldie (written October, 2006) but goodie. I especially like #10. I got rid of the name/email requirement after reading that. I didn’t know!

Would you like to comment on my piece about commenting? Please click the Comments link below and come back next week for week 2 of the Blog Challenge. 5 days down and 26 to go. You just don’t know what you might learn!

See Writing from Iowa Falls, IA – Blog Challenge Days 6 & 7.

Written by Laura on August 27th, 2010 |  Posted in Blogging

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Today’s assignment for the Blog challenge was to analyze another blog. I chose to not so much analyze a blog even though I have been following several for many months now. I’d rather just mention Social Media Examiner. I have read so many of their articles and have used some of their posts in mine. They have great tips and recommendations about social media networking and blogging.

I also wanted to use today’s post for a subject I touched on a day or two ago. I mentioned I didn’t tweet my latest posts right away and I had reasons for that. I was working on getting more local followers on Twitter and had tweeted about my new social media networking services and the new web page I had created.  The thinking there is those are the first tweets potential followers will read. They will see immediately what I do and where my focus is, to better help them choose if they wish to follow me.

I have now caught up with my blog challenge post tweets although I normally don’t like to send that many tweets back to back. As I mentioned in an earlier post, when I tweet they go to Facebook and Linkedin as well.

Perhaps I over-think all of this. Time will tell.

See Please Let Me Know You Noticed Me! Challenge – Day 5.

Written by Laura on August 26th, 2010 |  Posted in Blogging

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Here we are on Day 3 of our fabulous better blog challenge and it’s already promotion day! Unfortunately that doesn’t mean I get a promotion, but then I’m already head blog-writer and bottle-washer around here. No, no – promotion, as in promoting our blogs.

Shortly after I started this blog, I began promoting it. Sadly, after several months I have few readers. But does that keep me from writing? Well, heck no! I am confident that some day I will be appreciated and all this slaving away at the keyboard will pay off. Seriously, as you know (the few of you who have been following along), I write with my future readers and clients in mind. My purpose is to share and teach and truthfully, it’s a lot of fun!

On to my tips for today. I have used TweetMeme for several months now. It’s a neat little WordPress add-on that puts a button at the end of each post and connects to Twitter. When I am ready to spread the joy, I click the Tweet button and off it goes to Twitter-land. The beauty of the button is I have total control and I LOVE control. I tweet when I’m ready. In fact, I have not yet tweeted Day 1 or 2 of the blog challenge. I will do those later today. I have a reason for doing it this way — that is another blog post – stay tuned.

I also have my Facebook and LinkedIn accounts connected to Twitter so when I tweet, the tweet also posts to FB and LI for all my friends and business partners to see. It’s awesome, especially when they help me out and Like my post so their friends can see it.

I also have a RSS feed of my posts on the home page of my web site with buttons for Faceook, Stumble It, comment, and email. These are all quick ways for my readers to spread my words, as well. Now isn’t that cool?

I wanted to try one of the suggestions from Darren’s book so I specifically asked my BNI members to visit my blog at our weekly Wednesday morning meeting. And I further asked them to tweet or Like my posts so perhaps soon I will have more readers and I will feel like I have arrived! It’s all in our own perception, you know.

One more thing about Tweetmeme is that the little tweet button is out there for anyone to use. I asked BNI members to comment on my blog and if they are already on Twitter, they can use the tweet button to share with their followers. This is how the news spreads and we become famous.

Please help me become famous, at least in my little part of the world.

Questions and comments are welcome. Please click on the comments link below and a little form will appear where you can type away. Thank you!

See Attracting Twitter Followers & Day 4 Blog Challenge.

Written by Laura on August 25th, 2010 |  Posted in Blogging

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Blog Challenge – Day 2′s assignment is writing a list post. I was going to reuse a post I wrote a few months ago about Social Media Myths, but then I thought – hey, I want to make each of these posts helpful for all you aspiring blog writers out there. So this list is coming directly from the book we are using for the Blog Challenge – 31 Days to Build a Better Blog by Darren Rowse of ProBlogger.

Lists are popular because:

1. Lists are scannable—online readers are notoriously lazy and tend to scan content rather than read it word for word. A list helps communicate a number of points quickly and easily, and helps readers know if a post contains information of interest to them that they should actually read more of.

2. Lists keep posts succinct—there is something about a list that keeps you as a blogger from rambling. Each point has a start and end, whereas with an essay style of writing, points often bleed into one another.

3. Lists look neat—I don’t know about you but when I surf onto a site that’s full of messily formatted text I tend to keep my stay short. Lists, on the other hand, can be visually pleasing and more likely to stimulate reading.

4. Lists can be comprehensive—while some might argue that lists dumb down ideas and concepts, when written well they are actually just as comprehensive as any other style of writing.

5. Lists are persuasive—if you want to mount a case quickly, presenting numerous arguments in a list can be quite convincing. Again, it’s about identifiable points that together go to forming a convincing argument.

6. Lists can add to the ease of writing—I like writing in lists because they break down my thoughts into bite-sized pieces, which is good for my readers and me as a writer, as I consider how to express myself.

7. Lists go viral—lists can start epidemics of ideas. For the above reasons and more, bloggers and social media aficionados seem to love sharing lists and, as a result, they spread quickly throughout the web (and beyond).

8. Lists break down the complicated—one reason I find list posts to be powerful is that they can break down complex ideas or tasks.

There are many sites on the web where you can find ideas to stimulate your writing. You could look for list articles and do as I did with a list post by Peter Wylie. See my post and Peter’s full article here.

Happy Blogging!

See Have Blog – Will Promote!

Written by Laura on August 24th, 2010 |  Posted in Blogging

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Today is Day 1 of the 31 day blog challenge. We are taking weekends off so this will actually run through October! When all is said and done, I’ll make a separate link to keep all these posts together. I’m sure it will be helpful down the road.

I’m very excited about the blog challenge, not just because I will learn great blogging tips that I can share with all of you, but also because my Mastermind group is joining in the challenge as well.  BTW – great advice from the MM group earlier today. I always look forward to our meetings. We have a great group.

Today’s blog challenge assignment is to write an elevator pitch. What is your blog about? It can be as short as a tagline or can be a few sentences. Do you have one for your blog? If I land on your blog, do I immediately know what it’s about? I have ‘Web Design & Social Media Networking’ in the header image on mine but now I realize I should have more.

Perhaps it needs a little tweaking, but this is what I have right now (see below). I’ll see if I get some feedback from the members at 31 Days Blog Challenge. btw – You can still sign-up and participate along with all of us – it’s not too late!

Follow along as I share tips and tricks on blogging & social media networking.
Together we’ll learn to truly appreciate this great new way to connect!

What do you think? Does that grab you? Should I go with it?

Happy Blogging!

See Writing a Blog List Post – Day 2 Blog Challenge

Written by Laura on August 23rd, 2010 |  Posted in Blogging

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As you know from reading my blog, I have been working hard, learning tons, and gaining experience with this Social Media Marketing/Networking ‘stuff’ for the last several months. I’m really enjoying ‘meeting’ so many new people. It amazes me more and more every day how many people are out there in the land of the social web and are willing to help. The new challenges have been exciting as well. I’ll never walk away from a good challenge!

A few months ago I set a goal of September/October to be ready to roll with my new services, so I had to work hard and fast and learn as much as possible in a short amount of time. I’m on pace and feel very good about my progress. Of course there will always be something more to learn as the social media world changes as fast as the website world. Had I waited until I learned everything before I created my first website, I would have no websites created at this time. The learning never ends!

I have added a page to my website to highlight the social media networking services I will provide. I’m sure I will modify it as my offerings are expanded, but for now I hope it will serve as a starting point. Please check it out and tell your friends. My long-term goal is to help hundreds of small business owners to understand and use this new way of doing business.

websbywagner.com/socialNetworking

If you have questions about where to begin with Social Media, please contact me.

Written by Laura on August 21st, 2010 |  Posted in Web Design & Social Media

  2 Comments »

PGA Championship brings massive business to Sheboygan area

http://bit.ly/910ZiQ

If nothing else, they got Haven correct. I know I’m not the only one who gets tired of hearing Whistling Straights is in Kohler.

Comment below. I’d really like to know your thoughts.

Written by Laura on August 18th, 2010 |  Posted in Web Design & Social Media

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This article is for those of you who believe all the social media hype is just that, hype or a fad and it will blow over soon. I found this article a few weeks back and hung onto it with the intention of featuring it in a blog post.

B-Schools All A-Twitter Over Social Media by Sommer Saadi – Bloomberg Businessweek
http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/jul2010/bs20100726_143420.htm

The article lists several schools which have added social media courses to their business or marketing programs. These are big-name schools such as Columbia and Harvard. Saadi writes, “The two schools are among at least six that have added courses in the past year that allow students to learn about Internet marketing and social media strategy, according to course syllabi and faculty associated with the classes.”

This is a new way of marketing your business and I hope you will embrace it, watch it develop, and use it to attract new, loyal customers.  Check out the article and let me know what you think in the comments section below. Are you one who still thinks this is all a fad or am I slowly persuading you it’s not?

Written by Laura on August 17th, 2010 |  Posted in Web Design & Social Media

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I haven’t done much blogging lately because I was on vacation this past week and the week before that was spent getting lots of things done so we could go. I had to get a couple of blogs made for clients and a good start on a new e-commerce web site. All was accomplished on time so we could leave to visit our son in Denver, Colorado.

We did a lot and saw a lot during our 3 1/2 days in Denver, including a drive up Mount Evans. Wow – It was about 95º in Denver and 50º cooler at 14,200 feet. We even had a few flakes of snow while up there. I’m just glad I didn’t have to drive those winding roads with 180º turns. I don’t think I could do it. I was in the backseat and still had to close my eyes a few times!

Among other things, we went to Red Rocks and Breckinridge and had a nice visit with my cousin and her husband, who I haven’t seen in 20 years. We also sat in the mile-high seats at Coors Field to watch the Brewers play the Rockies. I’ve decided I’d really rather watch the Brewers at Miller Park. It’s just not the same anywhere else. All-in-all, a very nice trip except for the Brewers loss. But now it’s time to get back to work and do some catching-up. My first task was to write on my blog because it’s been neglected.

I did some reading/learning on our trip, of course. I took along a couple e-books which I’ve downloaded the last couple weeks to help with my business. The first, Twixplode by Sean Malarkey taught me some great ways to find/get more Twitter followers. I’m always looking for great ideas to share with my clients so I’m very excited to try some of the tips from Sean.

Of course, I will share with you how I do with those tips from Sean over the next few weeks. And that will help with the 2nd book – 31 Days to Build a Better Blog by Darren Rowse of ProBlogger. I purchased this e-book because I will be participating in a new 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge, beginning a week from today. If you’d like to join the challenge, check out Savvy Blogging Success.

I thought I’d read ahead while I had a little spare time, so I’d know what to expect next week. I have done many of the steps for the first 15 days (that’s how far I got in the book on the trip) but I’m sure I will learn a lot from the others in the Challenge group. We will be asked to do the steps in the book and then comment on them. Reminds me of a Discussion Board for an online class. I think it will be fun and I’ll learn a lot. If I get nothing more from the group, the book has helpful techniques that I can share with my clients. That is the main purpose for all of this. I always have in mind how I can use what I’m learning to help my clients reach more customers.

Now I’m off to find a couple articles about LinkedIn that I missed while on vacation. I received emails about them but had no time to read just then. So keep following for more tips on all of the above.

Written by Laura on August 16th, 2010 |  Posted in Web Design & Social Media

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Have you heard you should be using social media to promote your business? Has the thought of starting a blog crossed your mind a time or two? You have considered doing both but you have so many questions. How do I get started? What would I write about? Who on earth would want to read the stuff I’d write about? I’ve been there. I think almost everyone has, except for perhaps, the really conceited among us.

The reality is, it’s not nearly as scary or difficult as it seems at first glance. There are so many resources to help you. I’m finding articles every day with tips and tricks for blogging and social media. Ok, sure – I’m really into all this web stuff so I’m naturally finding great articles & info. But hey, all you really have to do is follow my blog and you’ll be a pro in no time. I re-purpose the good articles I find so you don’t have to be out there looking. Over time you will find everything you need right here.

Take for instance the article I found today at Social Media Examiner, written by Nerma Moore. Nerma gives 5 tactics for writing a blog post in 15 minutes. I’m watching the clock as I’m writing this. I’m not going to make 15 minutes but I’m content with them only taking me a half hour. I think it’s worth my time to share these topics with you. I will just share the highlights of her article and if you want more, go to the link above.

Tactic #1 – Plan Your Writing
What are people searching for? What interests them? What do they want to read?
Tactic #2 – Create a Headline Bank
Questions, Quotes, Short Stories, and Statistics – all great to grab attention.
Tactic #3 – Time Yourself (Watch the Clock)
Nerma suggests when your time runs out, you are done. I don’t think I’d agree with that but I do agree you must have some sort of limit. You can’t spend 3 hours writing a blog post. If it takes you that long, you will dread it and will not do it consistently.
Tactic #4 – Use the “Series Approach”
Instead of writing one blog post titled ’5 Simple Steps to Get Your Business On Twitter’, break it up into 5 blog posts. Each could be written in 15 minutes and you’ll have your readers coming back for more.
Tactic #5 – Get to “the Meat of the Problem”
Or rather, don’t leave the ‘meat’ out completely. Some bloggers will get the reader interested with the headline and intro but then the post just sort of fizzles.It brings to mind the ‘Where’s the beef?’ lady. Are you old enough to remember that??

See also the post I wrote June 22 – Three Blog Writing Tips.

BTW – this took about 35 minutes, proofreading included. But keep in mind, I had to flip back and forth between Nerma’s article and mine.

See Day 1 of Better Blogging Challenge.

Written by Laura on July 30th, 2010 |  Posted in Blogging

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