Tag Archives: Blogging

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Five Insights from My 2011 Reader Survey

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Ten days ago, I launched my 2011 Reader Survey. This is the third consecutive year I have done this exercise. I have benefited enormously each time. Ultimately, I think it also benefits you, because it helps me improve my blog and my writing.

Taking a Survey - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/fotostorm, Image #13834394

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/fotostorm

In my original post, I promised to summarize my results. I also want to share the conclusions I have come to as a result of the data. As a point of reference, more than 1,200 people have completed the survey so far.

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Anatomy of an Effective Blog Post

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Recently, my friend Philip Rothschild asked if I would write a blog post on “the anatomy of a 500-word blog post.” He said that he sensed I used some kind of template. He thought it might be something that would be valuable to others, as well as something he could use with his students.

Someone Drawing Lightbulbs on a Chalkboard Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/aluxum, Image #14314309

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/aluxum

I do, in fact, use a blog post template. I don’t follow it slavishly, but I always start with it. It includes all the elements that I have learned make for an effective post. It also helps me write faster, because it provides me with a track to run on.

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Four Actions You Can Take Now to Dramatically Increase Your Blog Traffic

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In the last 30 days, I have seen my blog traffic jump by 81.3%. I have seen steady growth since I converted from TypePad to self-hosted WordPress two years ago (up 338.6%). But the last 30 days represented the largest single jump in my traffic ever.

My January 2011 Google Analytic Stats

Source: Google Analytics

I want to share why I believe this has happened, so that you can apply what I have learned to your own blog. Hopefully, you will experience similar results.

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Why I Stopped Reading Your Blog

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I am a very loyal person. I have been married to the same woman for 32 years. Most of my close, personal friends have been friends for a decade or more. I have gone to the same church for 27 years. Once I let you into my life, I almost never ask you to leave.

Someone Flushing a Toilet - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Devonyu, Image #12681094

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Devonyu

But I just unsubscribed to your blog.

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3 Bloggers Every Serious Blogger Should Be Following

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I have numerous friends who are attempting to become more serious about their blogging this next year. They aren’t necessarily wanting to become professional bloggers, but they would like to increase their traffic and, perhaps, make money from their site.

Man Riding an Escalator to the Next Level - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/ilbusca, Image #9889860

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/ilbusca

If you are in this camp, then there are three bloggers you must follow. I subscribe to their blogs via RSS and read every article they post.

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How to Keep the Conversations on Your Blog Civil

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If the mid-term elections in the U.S. are any indication, the lack of civility in public discourse has sunk to a new level. No one seems to listen to their opponents. Pundits (and politicians) routinely talk over one another. Volume appears to be more important than logic.

Networking Group - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/jgroup, Image #5649910

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/jgroup

You might not be able to solve this cultural problem, but you don’t have to put up with it on your blog. Yesterday, Publishers Lunch Deluxe, commented on my blog post, “Why Do eBooks Cost So Much? (A Publisher’s Perspective).” After noting the high number of comments, the editor said,

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Five Reasons I Converted My Blog to Standard Theme

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One week ago today, I converted my blog to Standard Theme 2. You probably haven’t noticed much difference, because all the changes have been “under the hood.” I kept the design the same.

Screenshot of the Standard Theme Web Site

When I had John Saddington redesign my blog last year, he started with the “Daily Edition” theme from WooThemes. It was a great theme and has served me well. But, frankly, the “backend” or administrative side had become a jumbled mess. (This wasn’t WooThemes fault or John’s; it was due to my own constant tweaking.) So I wanted to start fresh.

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10 Ways to Create a Better “About Page” for Your Blog

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Recently, I was reviewing my blog’s statistics. I was really curious to find out what posts were the most popular. To my surprise, my About page was in the top ten most visited pages of all time.

The Word “About” Spelled Out with Keyboard Keys - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Eoseye, Image #1286101

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Eoseye

Prior to that, I hadn’t really thought much about my About page. I viewed it as obligatory but not really as an opportunity. (Obviously, anything that is getting clicked on that much is an opportunity.)

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A Solution for Consistent, Social Media Branding

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So you’ve spent more time than you should designing and tweaking your blog. (Don’t ask me how I know this.) You’ve got it just like you want it. For now. But what about your Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube pages? Are you content to upload your photo and be done with it? Or do you want a more consistent brand image, one that ties it all together?

My Customized Twitter Background, Courtesy of TweetPages.com

A few weeks ago, I uploaded a new profile photo to Twitter. However, that didn’t change my profile background. It still included my old headshot and a design done a few years ago by Matt Clark at TweetPages.com. I decided to visit his page again, and see what his company had to offer. Boy, was I surprised.