Category Archives: Guest Post

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5 Headline Templates That Grab Readers

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This is a guest post by Ray Edwards. He is is a marketing strategist, copywriter, speaker, and author. You can read his blog and follow him on Twitter.

Your readers decide whether your blog post is worth their time within a few seconds. Most of that decision is based on the post title (or “headline”).

5 Headline Templates That Grab Readers

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/DNY59

Some of the highest paying work in the copywriting business is creating headlines for magazine covers and tabloids. Think about it. Aren’t you sometimes at least tempted to pick up those magazines in the grocery store line? That’s the power of a great headline at work.

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The Secret to Becoming Awesome

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Nobody wants to lead an average life—at least nobody I talk to. But it's easy to do. We get lulled into a coma of ease and familiarity. Then we medicate our boredom and futility with entertainment. Before we know it, half our life is spent and we've done practically nothing important.

Jon Acuff's new book, Start, is the perfect alarm to wake us up and help us pursue a truly meaningful calling. The subtitle says it all: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average, and Do Work that Matters.

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Headlines That Grab Readers by the Eyeballs and Suck Them into Your Message

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This is a guest post by Ray Edwards. He is is a marketing strategist, copywriter, speaker, and author. You can read his blog and follow him on Twitter. (I recommend both!) If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.

If you’re a blogger who wants more traffic, more readers, and more engagement with your tribe, this post is for you. I’m sharing a simple five-part framework that will make your blog post titles (“headlines”) more compelling.

Headlines That Grab Readers by the Eyeballs and Suck Them into Your Message

Photo Courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/sdominick

In my work as a marketing consultant and copywriter, I see this problem all the time: great content obscured by boring titles and headlines.

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4 Ways to Connect with A-List Bloggers

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This is a guest post by Dean Dwyer. He is a former teacher who now makes a living online. You can read his blog and follow him on Twitter. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.

I have been pretty fortunate to have the opportunity to connect with some big hitters online. Aside from Señor Hyatt himself, here are a few of the others who have been gracious enough to give me a significant portion of their time.

Four ways to connect with A-list bloggers

Photo Courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/LattaPictures
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6 Ways to Transform Conflict

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Lawrence W. Wilson is a thinker, author, and senior pastor from Fishers, Indiana. He writes about the challenge of Christian leadership in a postmodern world. You can connect with him through his blog, Suburban Pastor, or on Twitter.

Conflict is an almost daily event in organizational life. Wherever two or three are gathered, one is likely to disagree!

6 Ways to Transform Conflict

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/gregobagel

Most people choose one of two classic ways of handling conflict: management or resolution:

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3 Great Blog Post Structures You Can Use Today

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This is a guest post by Ali Luke. She is a writer and blogger from the UK, and author of Publishing E-Books for Dummies. In partnership with Joe Williams of SEO Training, she runs day-long training courses on blogging and social media in London. You can read their blog and follow them on Twitter.

When I started out in blogging, I didn’t know how to put a blog post together. I started by simply typing out my thoughts. But it quickly became clear that, if I wanted readers, I needed a better plan.

Detail of an Engineering Blueprint - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/AK2, Image #7206299

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/AK2

However great a writer you are, your posts will only get read if they’re well structured. That doesn’t just mean having a gripping introduction (though that’s an important part of it). It also means getting the main body of your post right.

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5 Elements of Powerful Stories

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This is a guest post by Matt Ragland. He is a writer who explores the motivations behind our choices and how people prioritize what is really important to them. You can read more from him on his blog and then follow him on Twitter.

When I was in college, I cared about what people thought of me. Too much. It affected how I dressed, spoke, ate, exercised, and what classes I took. I rearranged my life to make others happy, and went with the ebbs and flows of their opinions. I didn’t serve my true self, or the calling that was inside me.

Books Flying Through the Sky - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/LuisPortugal, Image #7235328

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/LuisPortugal

Then I heard a story that changed me.

Once, there was a community of wise monks who lived in the desert. One day, a man arrived at the monastery, asking if he could stay and learn wisdom from the monks. The old abbot came out and greeted the traveler, then asked why he had come.

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Take Ownership of Your Life in 4 Steps

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This is a guest post by Anne-Sophie Reinhardt. She is an anorexia survivor, body image expert, and the owner of aMINDmedia. She empowers you to achieve a healthier and smarter life by returning to your true purpose and values. You can read her blog or follow her on Twitter.

“Remember, ultimately you are in control of your workout! I can motivate you to push harder. I can try to keep you from giving up, but in the end, it’s all up to you.”

A Woman Driving a Car - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Lorado, Image #18194030

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Lorado

This statement of our cycling instructor stuck with me because I see people give up control over crucial areas of their lives all the time.

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I Am Not a Leader (or So I Thought)

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This is a guest post by Tammy Helfrich. She is a wife, mom, and writer. She currently works for a Fortune 500 company and helps customers implement new processes. You can read her blog or follow her on Twitter.

“I don’t have a leader title.”

“I don’t have anyone who reports to me.”

“I don’t have experience leading people.”

Light Bulb Illustrating Leadership - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/shulz, Image #7320959

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/shulz

I used to say these things, as an excuse. I used to say I am not a leader. I used to believe I was not a leader.

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How to Lead a More Balanced Life

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This is a guest post by Todd Stocker. He is the Executive Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hudson, Wisconsin. You can read his blog or follow him on Twitter.

My backside aches this morning. Forty miles of riding a bike with a well worn seat will do that to you. But this pain is nothing compared to what almost happened yesterday.

Bicyclist’s Viewpoint in a Dangerous Intersection - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/TommL, Image #18016654

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/TommL

As Kellie and I ventured through the countryside on our twenty-one speeds, we experienced a pain that many people experience in their own personal lives and don’t even know it. Here’s what happened and how it relates to you.

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Never Waste a Good Fiasco

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This is a guest post by Tyler Ellis. He serves on staff with Newark Church of Christ as a Campus Minister at the University of Delaware. He is also author of the upcoming book, Questions Everything. You can read his blog and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Fiascos are inescapable. A change of circumstance. A wild goose chase. An obstacle that thwarts what you had envisioned.

Young Businessman in the Middle of a Fiasco - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/pixdeluxe , Image #12192393

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/pixdeluxe
  • Flights get delayed.
  • Guest speakers cancel.
  • Donors drop support.
  • The flu comes around.
  • Equipment breaks down.