Build A Better Blog Day 24: Use A Magazine To Improve Your Blog

Intriquing. What do magazines have to do with blogs? 

Well, to me, blogs have rather that magazine feel with their informative articles and beautiful or interesting pictures. So we can learn a lot from old media. Respect your elders!

1. Pick a magazine. Hopefully one in the genre you blog about but others can give you ides too!

2. Thumb through it. Tag what catches your eye.

3. Notice design, colors, pictures, text style everything that you notice right away.

4. Look at ad placement.

Absorb the magazine. It is a media that places things that yells BUY ME! Remember that Respect your elders? comment--well magazines still have some good ideas.

Magazines can give you ideas for posts, design, and can get the creativeness going. They also are a different form of media that allow you to keep up on your niche (Day 10 comes to mind).

Now, go over those things you tagged and pay special attention to detail. Format, pictures, content, design--all that stuff. 

At the very least, you'll absorb some good articles to post on!

Darren Rowe's book on blogging

Build A Better Blog Day 23: Call Your Readers To Action

Click Here

READERS! Here are some Calls to Action
1 ~ Make your own blog amazing! GET DARREN'S eBOOK.

2 ~ Make a call to action for your readers!

Most readers are passive. Especially when there is no call to action. You might get 1% to make comments. But there is an art to the CTA request. 

Mix in some of your own personality, make it pretty, make it easy and be clear on what to do. Sounds oh so simple! 

Check out this post on How to Get More Clients and Stop Sucking at Business. And at Baseball. Maybe.   

It's all in the ask.

Build A Better Blog Day 22: Pay Special Attention To A Reader

Haven't we gone over this? Well, maybe we have in Day 5 and maybe it's just really important to let your readers know you care. Which is what Darren says in the book. He says...When you create space on your blog to highlight readers in some way, the impact can be quite profound--particularly if you do it regularly.

Now, of course Darren doesn't forget the start-up people. He say if you have no readership yet, then try making another blogger famous by writing a post that links to them and highlights them.

For me, it's a no-brainer to do this. This is what my blog has become in the last months. Every time I post, it's to celebrate someone else. Nose Droppings has become something more of value and not just my thoughts on a variety of topics.  I've since thought of buying blog books and writing books and making this the go to place for wonderful new ideas on blogging/writing to attract readers.

But on to how to make a reader famous:

1 ~ Promote a comment to a post. Did someone have an insightful comment? Explore it more. Highlight the wisdom of the reader who made the comment.

2 ~ Write a post about the reader's blog. Write what you like about a reader's blog. Fix a link to your resources page.

3 ~ Have a Reader of the Week. Choose a different reader every week to highlight in a post.

4 ~ Invite a reader to post on your blog.

5 ~ Conduct an interview with an interesting reader.

6 ~ Create an Introduce yourself post. Write a post inviting readers to introduce themselves.

7 ~ Ask a question on twitter and highlight their answers on your blog.

I whole~heartedly agree with Darren's philosophy...it's about recognizing everyday readers. The people who appreciate your work and value your advice, and are most likely to become loyal, regular readers.

 

But today, I'm highlight Darren Rowe and his book...

Click for the link to grab Darren's advice

 

Build A Better Blog Day 21: Conduct A Policy Review

This was my first WTH question to Darren. Policy for a blog? Oh hell YES! 

Darren goes into all the legality that made me a bit confused until he explained it at the very end. He didn't make it sexy, so I am. 

Here's why policies are sexy~


       1. Policies help keep decisions easy when you have situations come up.
       2. Policies protect you from making blunders.
       3. Policies help you stay consistent.

 

Policies are blog condoms. For the safety of you and your readers, put some on. Here are some policies to think about~

1. Do you respond to all comments good or bad?
2. Do you allow all comments good or bad?
3. Do you approve comments?
4. Do you have a copyright policy?
5. Do you allow ads?
6. Do you allow fellow bloggers to post on your behalf?

 Of course Darren has further reading about How does your comment policy affect your readership so check out his book

 

Click HERE for the book!

 

Build A Better Blog Day 20: Leave Comments On Other Blogs

I feel the need to warn you...this needs to be done the right way with the right frame of mind.

Do not expect people flocking to your blog--

• Give value on your comments even on your competitors blog.
• Do it because you have something to say.
• Do it because you want to contribute.
• Do it without expecting others to give back.

You have the added benefit of researching your competitor, keeping up with your niche, getting ideas for topics, and finding people you can help.

 

What TO DO:

1. Comment regularly. Do it from the heart. Commenting regularly will give you the familiar factor.
2. Keep on topic. Don't stray and try to make it in the direction of your blog.
3. Give your opinion. Don't just regurgitate what the post said, actually think about the post.
4. Add another point the blogger didn't mention.
5. Ask relevant questions.

What NOT TO DO:

1. No SPAM. Putting "Great Post" with a link to your blog is spammy.
2. Don't just say anything, be authentic.
3. Don't give open and close comments, leave the door open for conversation.
4. No blasting other comments. The comments are for conversation not a lynching.  Trolling might get you a reaction but do you really want to deal with the blow back?
5. Unless sarcasm is your persona, and even if it is, please leave it behind. Negative vibes don't bring you readers. 

Definitely get this book:

What to do? Get this book!