As we wrap up a turbulent and economically challenging 2012 you may be asking yourself, how can I change things to be more productive and to provide a stronger revenue base in 2013? One of the most popular ways is, of course, social media. You have read and heard this before either in this series, on television, through friends, etc. It is truly something you must embrace in order to establish a market presence and build brand recognition. Today, I am going to touch on some techniques and tips to help you as you begin to blog you way to stronger revenue foundation and greater market presence.
What should a blog contain?
1. A call to action: Each blog should ask the reader to change or do something. It is true that blogs contain information, but think about blogs you have read before. For example, Seth Godin. In Godin’s blog, he provides ways to start doing things differently.
2. Catchy title: You want to title your blog something that will bring it attention. Although the title should relate to the blog, it is OK to be a bit creative with it.
3. Links: Your blog should link to other landing pages and also to social media buttons. The more your blog can be shared with others and that you create strategic landing pages, the more likely you are to have your blog read. And to be honest, that is what it is all about. The more people who read it, the more people know who you and your business are.
4. The platform: What are you blogging in? You should use the more recent version of your platform, such as Wordpress. In addition, be sure to take the time to learn the virtual editor.
5. Description: Make sure you create a meta-description that is less than a 160 characters. By honing in on the description you are more likely to capture your niche audience and customer.
6. Proofread, revise, and fine tune: Always, always, always be sure to proofread your work. If you like, have another individual review it as well. Your blog should be error free. I am sure you have read articles, blogs, stories and other items in which grammatical errors plagued the piece and it took away from the story’s purpose and the author’s experience. So proofread.
7. Google, Bing, Yahoo: Know your search engines. Each search engine has preferences. For example, Google likes freshness, experts and accessibility.
8. If possible, use images: Images allow the reader to understand the viewpoint of the author and what the author is trying to communicate to the reader.
Well, 2013 is just around the corner. Happy New Year and happy blogging!
Heather (Penney) Strohm is the regional director for Indiana State University’s Indiana Small Business Development Center.
Business
Business Cents: Blog to increase sales in new year
- Business
-
-
What do we mean ‘the recession has ended’? And, has it?
This column is not intended to confuse you, but to share the difficulty of making flat statements about a complicated matter. Be patient and, maybe, together we can make sense out of what appears to be chaos.
-
Chamber seminar on ‘Protecting Your Brand Online’
Reading online reviews and doing research is routine for many consumers before making a purchase. That means false or negative reviews can have a major impact on a business’ bottom line, often requiring swift action to minimize the damage. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is hosting a seminar designed to help companies combat this growing issue and to help protect their overall online reputation.
-
Social Security: Father’s Day advice: The right kind of fishing
This Father’s Day, you may be inclined to spend some quality time with Dad, maybe take him out camping or fishing. But try to make sure that nobody else tries to “phish” with you or your father.
-
Newsmaker: June 16, 2013
Watermark Residential, a wholly owned Thompson Thrift subsidiary, has been named to Multifamily Executive magazine’s 2013 Top 50 list of “Builders,” placing 45th.
-
Company invests in Indiana State theater
The Indiana State University Foundation recently announced that Bison Financial Group has made a charitable gift in support of Crossroads Repertory Theater.
-
AAA plans Member Appreciation Week activities
AAA Hoosier Motor Club will conduct Member Appreciation Week festivities in celebration of AAA members June 17-22 at all branches.
-
On the move: June 16, 2013
Brittany Michaels has been appointed as the community connections coordinator for the Vigo County Public Library.
-
Secretary of State office to implement technology upgrades
Secretary of State Connie Lawson announced technology upgrades to her office’s customer services, including an online tool to allow Hoosier businesses to receive email notices when it is time to file business reports.
-
Business Cents: Interview process key to attracting and retaining skilled, talented workers
As our economy continues to grow, there are challenges with identifying a skilled and talented workforce in the Wabash Valley.
-
UAP Clinic announces new CEO
Union Associated Physicians Clinic (UAP Clinic) has announced the appointment of Mindy Smith as its chief executive officer.
-
ISU center helps prepare grads for job market
Indiana State University is launching a comprehensive skills training program to certify the skills its graduates have for potential employers.
-
Eye on the pie: Growth, compensation just as important as jobs themselves
When you come down to it, having a job isn’t enough to make it in modern America.
-
Sycamore Insurance Associates moves to familiar Ohio Street location
A ribbon cutting ceremony on May 30 marked Sycamore Insurance Associates LLC’s move “back home” to 999 Ohio St., the location of the former Sycamore Agency, Inc.
-
On the move: June 9, 2013
The Maple Center for Integrative Health announces the addition of licensed massage therapist Nancy Humphries to the clinical staff. She received her training from the Body Therapy Institute in Siler City, N.C.
-
Briefly: June 9, 2013
Scotts Place, formerly Old Gringos, staged a grand opening on Thursday in Marshall, with a Marshall Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting ceremony.
-
WTHI-TV’s Mark Allen to retire
After nearly a half century of work in Indiana television, WTHI-TV’s longtime anchor, Mark Allen, will be retiring at the end of June.
-
Chamber of Commerce: The final strategic initiative: Health and Wellness
Thank you to all who participated in the Long Range Planning Community Forum. The information gathered at that event is now being drafted into a final report. Once the report has been reviewed and approved by the Terre Haute Tomorrow Steering Committee, the real work starts. Action teams to address the major issues will be developed.
-
Newsmakers: June 9, 2013
Scott’s Custom Colors recently won a contest through Enterprise which entailed a $5,000 donation to a charity important to them.
-
Social Security: A reason to smile: Online account options
Next Saturday, June 15, is Smile Power Day. Smack dab in the middle of the month — in the middle of the year, in fact — is a holiday dedicated to the power of smiling.
-
Major part of community’s image determined by the newspaper
To many Americans, Indiana is known for corn and the 500 race. These are views that are out-of-date and injurious to the state.
-
Social Security: Social Security’s most popular baby names list
Jacob and Sophia are repeat champions as America’s most popular baby names for 2012.
-
Hamilton Center part of trauma-informed community
Hamilton Center, Inc. is one of 37 behavioral health organizations across the United States that have been chosen to participate in the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare’s 2013 Trauma-informed Behavioral Healthcare Learning Community launched in April.
-
Business Cents: Do you have a disaster plan in place for your business?
Due to recent events, I began to ponder just how many companies have a disaster plan in the case of a natural disaster, fire, etc.
-
Newsmakers: June 2, 2013
The Indianapolis Business Journal recently named Watermark Residential as one of the 25 “Largest Indianapolis-Area Commercial Real Estate Developers.” Watermark was 4th on the list.
-
Chamber seeks Community of Year nominations
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2013 Community of the Year Award.
-
On the move: June 2, 2013
Deena Dodd, director of the Terre Haute-based Indiana Statewide Rural Health Network, was elected to the board of directors of the National Cooperative of Health Networks Association at the association’s annual meeting in New Orleans.
-
Indiana farmers make rapid progress planting corn
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Indiana farmers who had worried that wet spring weather would prevent them from planting some of their corn fields have made rapid progress getting the state's top crop in the ground.
-
Indiana State Fair to host job fair May 30
The Great Indiana State Fair is hoping to fill more than 500 hourly positions during a job fair from 3 to 7 p.m. May 30. Most of the jobs are temporary positions that cover the duration of the fair, which runs Aug. 2-18.
-
NEWSMAKER: May 26, 2013
Distributors Terminal Corp. has earned 940 out of 1,000 points on AIB International’s annual food safety audit.
-
SOCIAL SECURITY: Social Security honors all who serve
Every day of the year, Americans across the nation remember friends and family members who have served and sacrificed for their country.
- More Business Headlines
-
What do we mean ‘the recession has ended’? And, has it?
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On'
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Rain Damages Brazil Soccer Stadium
Robot Action Connected to Human Thought
NYC 911 Call Lasts for 8 Hours
California Cops Cruise on Stand-up Paddle Patrol
Falling Cable Hurts 10 NASCAR Fans
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Obama: US Has Helped Syrian Rebels
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
Raw: 100K Protesters Flood Brazilian Streets
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck
Afghan Forces Take Afghanistan Security Lead
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
"Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking
Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
