| How do we do this? | | | | words. |
| By programming a mini troupe of AI Ewoks to | | | | Make your blog easy to access from the main |
| cavort across your homepage every time | | | | page of your website - duh, or no one will be able |
| someone visits your site? | | | | to get there... (And don't forget to link back again |
| By offering a free back massage to every | | | | - personal bugbear maybe, but I hate not being |
| subscriber? (This would be more effective if you | | | | able to just click back to the main site from a |
| regularly stop traffic whilst out for a jog.) | | | | blog.) |
| By hosting exclusive real time streaming of an | | | | Provide a menu system making it easier to |
| underground Apple VS Google fight club? | | | | find individual blogs - a good archive or category |
| Yes to all the above. Though they might need | | | | list cuts down viewer search time. |
| some tweaking... | | | | Provide recommendations and be generous |
| Keeping your blog exciting and interesting is not | | | | with your links to other sites - links breed links; if |
| always easy but is worth the challenge. Producing | | | | you think someone's given great advice or has a |
| a blog can be vital for increasing search engine | | | | perfect example of what you're trying to explain, |
| optimisation ranks and delivering important | | | | show them some love. If your article is well |
| information clearly. From a search perspective, | | | | written, they may link back to you. |
| search engines thrive on sites producing fresh and | | | | Provide links to different areas of your site |
| new content, so it's imperative to make your | | | | directing viewers to extra information - make it |
| content unique and engaging. | | | | as simple as possible for customers to follow the |
| Hooks and quirks are another way to do this, but | | | | route they're likeliest to take, and while you're |
| these need to be thoughtfully planned and | | | | there, pop some additional ideas in their peripheral |
| seamlessly executed. Get a cup of coffee and | | | | vision. |
| take the examples above: | | | | Always answer questions and respond to |
| #1 The Ewoks. Depending on the personality and | | | | feedback, good and bad - it's appreciated, |
| tone of your company, a gimmick or humorous | | | | professional and healthy for your customer |
| aspect to your blog is often a winner. Something | | | | service reputation. |
| that shows you have a SOUL and a sense of | | | | Presentation and layout is important, don't |
| humour can appeal to viewers and make them | | | | underestimate the power of the aesthetic - a |
| want to stick around, visit again and share this | | | | badly designed site looks shoddy and |
| cute little fluffy forest dweller with their friends. | | | | untrustworthy, like a 2nd hand car salesyard with |
| #2 The back massage. Unless you are actually a | | | | a pile of ripped off license plates in the corner... |
| local masseuse, this might not be the best idea | | | | Research your competitors within your niche, |
| after all. But offering a promotion, a competition | | | | see what works for them, what they lack and |
| or some sort of benefit specifically for your | | | | what you can do better - because no one's |
| readers can tempt others in, especially if you can | | | | perfect, there's always something you can |
| offer something worthwhile. Let's face it. No one | | | | improve on. |
| wants a frickin' coupon. | | | | Being the first to delivering information (i.e. |
| #3 The fight club. If we could make this happen, | | | | before your competitors) is a great way of |
| you know we would. And you know you'd come | | | | producing extra traffic to your site - being original |
| and watch. Imagine it: Matt Cutts and Steve Jobs, | | | | and current and topical can make you an |
| shirtless and bloody in a basement, fighting to the | | | | authority. |
| death... Ok, maybe not. The point here is to offer | | | | Be realistic about the amount of posts you |
| something totally unique, something controversial, | | | | can handle (or delegate) - schedule your blog like |
| or something undeniably awesome that people | | | | any other deadline. |
| just can't ignore. That, my friends, is how we go | | | | Mix things up with different media - images, |
| viral. | | | | video, music, slideshows and graphics all increase |
| Ok, so we can't give our readers dynamite offers | | | | the visual interest of your posts and instantly add |
| and giggles all the time. And a one-hit-wonder blog | | | | further distribution options. |
| post won't get returning visitors if the rest of | | | | Stay professional. Nuff said |
| your content is twaddle. Most of the time we | | | | Blogging can be a big benefit to business and a |
| need to focus on writing well, stating our points | | | | great method of online marketing, with or without |
| clearly and in an interesting way. Don't just rehash | | | | Ewoks. No matter what your company is about, a |
| an article you spotted on a popular site or just | | | | blog can serve as a personal base from which |
| spout advertising for your company. Make each | | | | you can really show the passion you have for |
| post count: | | | | what you do. If you're not blogging, you're missing |
| Keep it short and to the point - waffle is no | | | | out on higher search rankings, more site traffic, |
| fun - you should be able to tell your audience | | | | larger brand awareness and, above, all potential |
| what they need to know in between 200 and 500 | | | | customers. |