The Importance of Blog Design

Blogging Tips May 31st, 2008 Say Something (1)

Billboard saying “One night stand.”

Blogs have increased popularity over this past months.  Many people have started to create their personal blogs to express their thoughts and feelings.  Internet companies have also started their blogs to inform consumers on the latest product news and reviews, yada yada…

Because of this, blogs are also being used as internet marketing media.  Before, internet marketing was done by placing banners and links on popular websites, such as news and information sites.  Links were also included on newsletters and marketing letters sent to the members of their mailing lists, again yada yada…

Many people spend time, sometimes too much time, reading blogs (I am guilty of this).  People read their friend’s blogs, their favorite author’s blogs, blogs on topics that they are interested in, and blogs on product reviews.  With the increasing popularity of blogging, it is even feared that people rely on blogs to get the latest news. Hell, I do. I rely on my my favorite AM blogs for the latest am news.

While getting news reports from blogs isn’t reliable, some people look for product reviews through blogs.  In some cases, this is more dependable.  While it is true that some media persons are being paid to write good reviews about a certain product, blog writers write about their actual experiences on products and services from a company. Since there are many people who read and start their own blogs, blogs are a good medium to market a product.  With the increasing blog traffic means increase in product sales, of course, yada yada…

There is plenty info out there on the net on how to get blog traffic and such so I won’t get all into it here… download the blog profits blueprint if you are serious about making money from blogging… just click that ginormous banner in the sidebar.

When you have increased traffic on your blog, you should try to keep you visitors coming back and recommending your blog to friends and colleagues. This can be done by having informative or amusing content and good blog layout and design.  You may develop your blog’s content or you can also acquire the services of a web content writer to provide you with the blog articles.(Out source that crap but then you will lose your personality in the writing.)

The blog’s layout and design also plays a big role.( if you noticed I got a new and final blog theme done from Mike over at BlogThemeMachine.)  While most of the companies offering free blog hosting (something that I don’t recommend doing, get Hostgator $7 bucks hosting) offer pre-selected templates, there are also some that allows customization that if you utilize this feature correctly can increase your blog’s traffic.

Here are a few tips to make your blog stand out from the millions of blogs out there that have standard designs.

* Customize the banner

The banner usually has the most generic designs that are common to the blogs from a blogging company or service.

You can personalize this banner by having a graphic with the dimensions of the banner.  You can also edit the graphic so that it will also include the title of your blog.

In this case, you can create your own graphic or you can purchase professional looking graphics online for less than $10.

* Personalizing photos

Of course, most of the photos that you will be posting will be your own.  However, if you don’t customize the photos before posting them, you may miss maximizing the enhancing benefits graphics can add to the page.  Adding photo borders can help the photo stand out from the page.

It can also add to the design of your blog.  You can choose a standard border or you can also create your own border which can be associated with your blog’s templates.

* Add a favicon

Don’t you think sites with icons on the address bar before the website’s URL are cool?  Many people do.  These favicons add a professional look to the URL.  These easy to do using photo or graphic editing softwares.

* Check out blog templates, layouts, backgrounds, textures and skins from sites

There are sites that offer free blog templates, layouts, backgrounds, textures and skins.  You can make use of these so your blog will not look generic like most of the blogs hosted by the service provider.

* Include RSS feeds

This is a cool way to inform people with newsreaders about your blog headlines.  Tutorials on RSS feeds are available on the internet.

* Audio makes your blog more personal

Not only does audio personalizes the blog; it can also keep your visitors coming back.  You can try having streaming radio stations, mp3 file or playlists loading with your blog.

* Advertisements

If you have signed-up with Google Ad-Sense, which I am sure you would like to do, make sure that the ads are conveniently placed that these will not hinder your readers’ ease in accessing the information on your blog. Try using these tips and you can definitely increase and retain traffic on your blog.

What is Preeminence?

Blogging Tips February 23rd, 2008 Say Something (0)

Preeminence.

It is the perception that a person is the best or one of the best authoritative sources on a specific topic. You don’t really need to be the best, but people just need to perceive you as the best. Its finding your niche and letting others see you exceed in it, while you may not be really at all.

Be a thought leader

Use you mind and lead with it. The brain is a powerful tool we have and it is up to you to decide how you want to lead with it. Use your stored and learned knowledge to be a leader on a particular thought and show others that you have the ability to discuss your opinions on this topic.

How to establish preeminence?

We do this by constantly educating ourselves with what is going on in our niche. For example, I love to go out clubbing, so I will research all the clubs and find out which ones suit me best.

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10 Guidelines for Designing a Credible Website or Blog

Blogging Tips February 8th, 2008 Say Something (1)

The advent of internet has drastically changed the information landscape. People are increasingly relying on ‘The world wide web’ for information and research. The fact that information from various sources is made available at the comforts of home is attracting more and more people towards it.

In today’s world, a website is the fastest and cheapest medium to reach a wide range of audience. A website is an absolute need for business, organizations or even individuals. A website has become one of the important identities of organizations and individuals. A good website attracts prospective customers and serves as an interface between the organization and its customers. There might be a day, when not having a website is not an option!

Designing a not ‘rocket science’ anymore. With the help of website generators and various tools anyone can design website. The internet is flooded with such tools and applications, a simple search with Google would do. The flip side is anyone can create a website and the burden is on you to differentiate yourself from the clutter. Creating a professional and good looking website involves a lot of thought process and research.

Here are some guidelines for successful website development:

• Design to look professional

A professional look is very important for a website. A professionally designed website will attract visitors and retain them. Take some time to identify the niche audience you are targeting, study them, understand their preferences and plan your design accordingly. Decide if you require a simple HTML site, an integrated dynamic site or Ecommerce application. The visual design must match the purpose of the website and never distract form the main theme. Your website must leave a good impression over the visitor at the first instance and build their confidence in the products and services you provide. Make sure your site is consistent from beginning to end.

• Make easy to verify the accuracy of the info on site The facts and information provided in the website must be accurate and verifiable. You can improve the credibility of your website by providing third party support for the information you provide. You can provide the links to citations, references and sources in support of your information. The references and citations must be taken from reliable a source. This goes a long way in inspiring trust and confidence in the customer. After all a customer doubting your information is the last thing your want.

• Show that there is a real organization behind your siteShowing that there is a legitimate organization behind the website is a very important in establishing the credibility of the website. Show verifiable information like the physical address or contact number in your website. Other features like providing reference to previous clients, posting office photos or listing a membership with commerce chamber can also help.• Highlight the expertise in your organization, in the content and services you provide

Stress the experience and expertise of your organization in your domain. If you are a product based organization provide facts (support them with third party references) that support your position as a market leader in your domain. Similarly you can list the fortune 500 organizations that you supply products or render services. Highlight the recent technologies, inventions or patents registered under your organization. By clearly highlighting your expertise you

• Show that honesty and trustworthy people stand behind your site You can provide a simple bio of the people working in your organization their family and hobbies. Staff photographs can have a positive impact on customers if used with care. Testimonials can also be used for this purpose.

• Make it easy to contact youOne way to make your website credible is by showing contact information like physical address, E-mail addresses and phone numbers clearly. You can even provide a simple form for the customers to get their reviews and comments. This helps you evaluate your performance and makes the customer feel you really care for his needs. • Make your site easy to use and make it usefulSimple things like providing the link to your home page at the bottom of each webpage can bring a professional look to your website. Your site should be easy to find, easy to read, and easy to navigate. The site graphics should be neat and catchy, and should not distract visitors from the central focus. A bad choice of color and graphics can leave a bad taste in the visitor’s mouth. Go for a right blend of technology, functionality, graphics and content to match the purpose of the website.

• Update your sites content oftenPeople tend to rate websites with up to date information higher than the rest. The content should be dynamic and should keep pace with the recent developments in the industry.• Use restraint with any promotional content

Avoid using promotional contents like ads in your website. If it is necessary to place ads chose the right place to ensure you differentiate the sponsored content from your own. Avoid pop-up ads at any cost.

The Right Mindset Makes It Easy To Make Blogs Work For Your Business

Blogging Tips January 19th, 2008 Say Something (0)

Blogging is taking off like a wildfire. People are blogging about  just about anything you can think of. From the daily routine of their cat, to technology reviews, to politics.

Until the blogosphere sorts itself out and matures a bit more, it may be difficult to tell exactly how this new frontier of instant publishing can help you and your business grow. But don’t worry – you’ll start getting a flood of new ideas in the coming months.

For now, the most important thing you can do is develop the right mindset about business blogging. What you think about something, and how you strategize appyling it in your business very often has more to do with succes than the technology, tool, or resource itself.

With that in mind, here is the most important thing you can do. Keep your eye on people.

DO NOT get stuck on the “technology.” That’s what drove all the pie-in-the-sky dot.com dreamers into the financial abyss. It’s people and personal communication that matter most, and should always be a the center of all your thoughts, strategies, and actions.

Blogging is just a tool. But it’s a tool that can and should become a major support arm of your business. Why? Because it exponentially multiplies the world’s oldest, most favored, and trusted form of information sharing — word of mouth.

Just ask yourself, whom do you trust the most to give you advice, recommendations, and information about opportunities, purchases, or choices? Someone you know and trust, right? Someone who you feel is just like you.

That type of trust comes from personal communication, social interaction, and the joining together of like-minded individuals. Blogging simply magnifies and expands that sense of community and more personalized communication, and then expands the reach across the entire world!

Link trust; with respect, positioning, and word-of-mouth and you have the makings of a powerful marketing arm that can initiate an ever-growing stream of highly targeted prospects.

Remember, it’s the relationships that matter most. Keep your eye on that fact, and you’ll always have the right mindset for business blogging that’s a benefit for you and your readers.