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5 time-sensitive phrases to avoid when blogging

by at 2:44 pm 4 Comments

Real-time is the name of the game in our digital space. Why do so many bloggers and writers insist on beginning their prose with old, outdated, and stale references to time and “current” events?

Here are 5 phrases to avoid in the opening/intro of your blog. By the way, these are real. Not real-time, just real blunders.  

1. “Three months ago…”

      My take: What were you waiting for? I’m outta here.

2. “When I attended the XXX conference in Vegas a few weeks ago…” 

       My take: I wasn’t there, it’s old, goodbye.

3. “Five years ago when I wrote an article on…” 

      My take: What rock have you been under?

4. “A study from 2010…” 

      My take: Tell me something new. Until then, I’ll be napping. 

5. “Industry leaders debated the March, 2011 research…” 

      My take: Where were you in March? 

Author Eckhart Tolle writes in his best-selling book, The Power of Now: “The time is Now.”

And by the way, if you need ideas and help with blogging, writing, and content, I invite you to sign up for my free, 21-day video series, “Speaking of Communication.” 

Filed Under: Blogging, content, Social Media, Writing Tagged With: , , , ,

12 things every business blogger should know how to do

by at 4:28 am 9 Comments

Trying to navigate the blogosphere and find your own voice? It’s easy to have an identity crisis as you work to create the persona of your dreams.

 I find that blogging isn’t that difficult until educated, professional, bright grown-ups begin to overanalyze things. Most know the basics; hell we got through high school, college, and years of work. Suddenly we can’t put together some rudimentary thoughts on a topic we (likely) have been involved with for years. Be brave. It’s a new world. Kind of.

Consider these 12 things that every blogger should know how to do:  

1. Make your own rules. Don’t get stuck with someone else’s belief about word count, frequency of posts, and editorial calendars. Work your blog based on what feels right for you and your readers.     

 

 2. Stick to what you know and enjoy. When you write about topics you’re well-versed in and passionate about, it comes through loud and clear. This will help build your credibility as an expert in your field. It could also be enjoyable.      

 

3. Identify your audience.  Take time to analyze where your ideal clients hang out online. Who are they and what can you do for them? Do you know their challenges? How can your knowledge add to their success? Hints: Survey Monkey, Google Alerts, chats, and Twitter. 

 

4. Write to express, not to impress. The secret to blogging lies in the writing. Yes, business blogs must be professional but they are not a dull white paper with stuffy jargon. Be conversational, say exactly what you need to say, and be done. It may be 50 words or 500. No one will care if you write in a compelling and helpful style. 

 

 5. Understand the art and science of writing headlines.  In our crazy, busy world, you’ve got eight words in your headline that must compel someone to read on. It’s about psychology, emotions, curiosity, and marketing. Master this.                       

 

6. Forget writer’s block.  There’s no such thing as writer’s block. Pay attention to people and the world around you and you’ll have a steady pipeline of topics to cover. 

 

7. Use video.  Video is the hot trend in social media this year. Not everyone is writer, and not everyone is a reader. We all learn through different communication modalities; some of us are more visual while others are more auditory. Enter video blogs (vlogs). Bonus: Record your video and have it transcribed so you can repurpose it.  

 

 8. Weave your personality into your posts.   Give readers a glimpse into your world. How can you do this while focusing on their needs and challenges? Always connect your experience back to them. Take a look at this first link and see what I mean. 

 

9. Encourage people to comment, and respond to them. Invite your audience to get involved by asking for their feedback, experience, or opinion. Be sure to check your comments daily and respond to everyone. After all, no one likes to be ignored. Blogs are interactive, not static. Invite the dialogue. 

 

 10. Find good images. Interesting visuals, pictures, and video snippets all add to the reader’s experience. Collect images and build your library. Entice visitors with visuals that help drive your message. Tap into their senses while showing your creativity. 

 

11. Understand the next steps. After people read your post, what do you want them to do? What’s the call to action? Sign up for a free newsletter, video, or webinar? List building and landing pages are essential to building a following, keeping in touch with your readers, and marketing to them in the future.

 

12. Write and upload your own post. Be sure you can do this from beginning to end in less than 30 minutes.  That means without the help of tech support or a web weenie.   

 

Building your online community takes time and focus. Commit to it and you will reap the benefits, both personally and professionally.

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Creativity, Social Media Tagged With: , ,

Deciding what’s news: 6 questions to determine if your story is newsworthy

by at 2:32 am 21 Comments

Newsrooms and bloggers are constantly flooded with pitches that aren’t even close to being newsworthy. Why are only a few stories and pitches picked up and the rest land in the trash or delete folder? 

Let’s go back to the old “Journalism 101″ inverted pyramid style of writing news. OK, I’m dating myself here, but these six rudimentary questions will help determine if you have a remarkable story to share.  

Before you begin writing your pitch or press release, ask yourself: 

  1. Who gives a crap? If you can answer this question, your response belongs in the headline or subject line. Hint: Relatives and paid employees don’t count. 
  2. What makes my story outshine the other 372 that crossed the desk of the reporter or blogger today? Hint: Pitch purple snowflakes. 
  3. Where would my story fit in to this reporter’s world?  Hint: Relevance rules. 
  4. When is this most important? Today, tomorrow, next Tuesday?  Hint: Yesterday=snore. 
  5. Why would anyone sitting in their den in Utah, driving on I-95 in Florida, or bowling next to my dad in New Jersey want to pay attention to this story? Hint: Connect with emotions and the human factor.  
  6. How can this story help other people? Hint: It’s not about buying your book or hiring you to train execs.  

Most reporters look at unsolicited press releases from people they don’t know as mere interruptions in the workday. Don’t be an interruption. Go for impact. How do I know? I was a news reporter and radio news director.

My mantra when I read or heard a pitch: Come on, make my day. Hint: I’ve mellowed, but the business hasn’t.

P.S. Here’s my shameless plug: Check out my 21-day, free video series, Speaking of Communication. It’s packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for blogging, social media, publicity, and business communication. The box is on the top right.


Filed Under: Blogging, media, Public Relations, publicity Tagged With: , , ,

Your A-Z Guide to Successful Business Blogging

by at 5:05 am 25 Comments

Are you ready to launch a blog or ramp up your existing one? 

Here are 26 tips to help you on your blogging  journey:

Add pictures, visuals, and images to your posts to communicate with readers on different levels.   

Be the solution.  Help people solve their problems. Solve, don’t sell.

Consider all multimedia platforms such as video blogs, podcasts, and audio clips.  

Define who you are, who your audience is, and what benefits blogging may bring you.  The bottom line: Why are you blogging?  

Eavesdrop on conversations to help you develop new content. 

Forget the word count. Be clear and make your point. That’s it. 

Grab people’s attention from the get-go with compelling and punchy headlines. 

Highlight text, subheads, key phrases, and lists to emphasize important points and make your posts more reader-friendly.

Interact with your readers by asking them questions in your posts and responding to comments.  

Jump into the fray. Don’t be afraid to take a stand on an issue or controversy in your niche or field. Boldness counts. 

Kill the negative self-talk and judgment. You don’t have to be a professional writer to be a great blogger.    

Listen to the conversations in chats and groups to determine what people are “stuck” on. There’s your content.

Move people emotionally through your words, language, metaphors, real-life experiences, and humanity.

Notice what other bloggers are doing. Get ideas on layout, colors, design, content, and self-promotion.

Open your eyes, heart, and mind. We’re in uncharted waters.

Position yourself as a credible resource in your field. Become the “go-to” guy (or gal) 

Quit taking it personally (Q-TIP) if no one comments on your blog. Comments do not equal readers. 

Remember we are in a real-time world. Post often so your blog doesn’t become static and stale. 

Simplify your words. Blogging is not business writing, even though you’re probably writing about business. Be conversational. Consider yourself a creative artist. 

Try using patience. You may get frustrated or overwhelmed with the pressures that come along with a blog. This isn’t a short-term commitment with fast results. 

Understand the analytics, metrics, search engine optimization, keywords, and other important tools to help you determine content, audience, readership, and more.

Vary your posts but not your expertise. Stick with what you know without painting yourself into a corner.  

Write when you have something to say. Your readers will appreciate it.

X-ray your life. Take a close look into the body and soul of your professional career and personal experiences.  Shine a light on them to diagnose your ”lessons learned.”   The result: Content. Lots of it.

Yearn for more. Your curiosity and willingness to learn about new trends in your industry, technology, and life in general will serve you well in your blogging endeavors. 

Zero in on your readers. Write as if you’re speaking directly to them. A blog is merely the medium (vehicle) to reach mass amounts of people.  Make each one feel special and connected to you. 

Now I know my ABCs…

One final note: Here’s a free resource for you. Take advantage of my 21-day video series “Speaking of Communication.” It focuses on Social Media, blogging, PR, writing, and communication themes. Click on this link now for instant access http://www.getinfrontcommunications.com/

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, content, Writing Tagged With: , , , ,

7 ways to be a kick-ass blogger

by at 4:04 am 35 Comments

When it comes to blogging and creating content, clarity trumps confusion.

Some people have been blogging for five or 10 years. But for most of us, blogging is a relatively new communication medium. Too many people are unclear about what it takes to become a successful blogger.

Here are 7 ways for you to become a kick-ass blogger: 

  1. Kick-ass bloggers are clear on their expertise, niche, and passion. They don’t panic and lie awake at night trying to figure out their niche. They know they are the sum of all their experiences. They look at their professional and personal journeys and know what instinctively feels right. Lack of passion leads to lack of clarity, which brings on mental chaos, confusion, self-doubt, and sometimes therapy. 
  2. Kick-ass bloggers write when they feel inspired and compelled to share a powerful message that’s worthy of someone else’s time. If they feel like they need the structure of an editorial calendar, they use one. If they feel “trapped” by a calendar with topics, they don’t bother with it. They trust their gut.
  3. Kick-ass bloggers who aren’t professional writers are OK with that. They are conversational. They don’t get rattled  over grammar and style. They write from the heart; in their own voice and personality. Being a layman doesn’t stop them from participating. 
  4. Kick-ass bloggers look back at where they began and are proud of their persistence. They realize that the only way to be a kick-ass blogger is to keep practicing and improving. Their mantra: ”Just keep writing.” They are keenly aware that it takes a long time to get noticed. 
  5. Kick-ass bloggers have soul. They watch for lessons in life and those light bulb moments that lead to wordsmithing, editing, critical thinking skills, organization, and expression. They create content that moves, educates, informs, and entertains people because they are willing to show their own humanity.
  6. Kick-ass bloggers understand that comments, or lack of, may mean something, but it doesn’t mean the end of the world.  They know deep down inside that as they continue to write and attract readers, the comments will follow.  
  7. Kick-ass bloggers have studied and learned what their audience wants. They are clear in their role as a blogger. They relate to their community. They engage with all kinds of people and personalities.  They follow prestigious and well-known bloggers. They offer meaningful comments. They guest post. They analyze stats and traffic. They follow trends, know keywords, are aware of the importance of strong headlines and titles, and so much more. In the end, they consistently deliver.

They have earned the title of kick-ass blogger. Have you? Or are you still nervously biting your nails wondering why three people unsubscribed from your RSS feed yesterday?  

 

P.S. Here’s a free resource for you. Take advantage of my 21-day video series “Speaking of Communication.” It focuses on Social Media, blogging, PR, writing, and communication themes. Click on this link now for instant access http://www.getinfrontcommunications.com/

 

 

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Creativity, Social Media, Writing Tagged With: , , ,

8 Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Blog

by at 9:00 am 8 Comments

No one likes to sit in traffic but everyone wants traffic. Suddenly, traffic is good.

To drive readers to your blog — and keep them coming back — here are eight tips to consider: 

1. Stick with one thing. It can be broad but it’s important that you know (and love) your subject matter. This helps to build your brand and online persona. Your blog is like a long-term relationship. You love it and you stay together. When you focus on your niche, and are passionate about it, readers will come to respect you as an expert in your field. Trust and passion shine. 

2. Read everything in your industry. We are blessed with an abundance of resources and information. Stay current by reading the opinions and rants of others in your field — including competitors. Look and listen for trends. This leads to quality content. No time you say? Turn off the TV. Just a suggestion.

3. Write for the reader. Blogging is not a 300-level college business class. If someone wanted that, they’d buy a textbook. Write as if you are speaking to one person. Conversational, casual, and meaningful. I believe that people don’t want to follow your blog. They want to follow you. Reach out to them through your words, experiences, and expertise. Let them get to know you. Then they’ll come back — and bring friends. Stuffy sucks. Don’t you agree? 

4. Solve their problem. When you consider yourself a problem-solver and not a salesperson, people will be attracted to you and your  message. Write with the sole purpose of helping your reader to ease their challenges. It’s not about you. Be the solution.

5. Involve them. You may think the only interactive part of blogging is the comments section. Think again. Ask your readers a question. Get into their heads. They’ll feel as though you’re connecting directly to them. Here are some examples:  

  • “Your thoughts?”
  • “Did you ever burn the roast minutes before your guests arrived? Here’s how to avoid cooking disasters.”     
  • “Stuffy sucks. Don’t you agree?”  
  • “If you’re like me and hate the airport….” 


6. Keep it reader-friendly. Catchy, relevant headlines that impact people will compel them to read on. Grab their attention with short and punchy sentences. Use images and pictures to break up the text. Use bold or italics to emphasize key points. We are all skimmers and scanners who quickly glance at something to see what jumps out at us. Give them nuggets.  

7. Forget the “rules.”  I don’t know about you, but I hear a lot of buzz about editorial calendars, the number of posts you should write, and word count. There are no rules. It’s whatever works for you. Don’t over think because it will paralyze you. Here’s what I believe. I use a journal to write down ideas and notes that spark my creativity. I don’t need a calendar to tell me when to write. When I “feel” it, I write. Art can not be forced. Quotas: I don’t like them. I prefer to write quality content that’s relevant and inspiring. It may be two a week or four a week. Who knows? On the word count issue, just make your point. There is no word count. Make every word count.   

8. Focus on the positive. Sure the economy stinks and some people are mean. If you’re in a bad mood, don’t write. You’ll only be spreading poison. The goal is to draw people to your blog, not drive them away. 

Another key way to engage people—especially ”non-readers” —is to use video blogs. Sprinkle these into your repertoire from time to time. Vlogs allow viewers to hear your voice and observe your style. It’s a fabulous way to build rapport. 

Filed Under: Blogging, content, Writing Tagged With: , , ,

Should You Care if No One Comments on Your Blog?

by at 9:20 pm 7 Comments

You agonize about the topic, timing, audience, reaction, and traffic that your new blog post may bring. You quietly pray for a comment or two. Then nothing. It’s a sickening feeling —like throwing a party and no one shows. Well, relax. It’s not quite that bad. 

It’s human nature to want to be accepted, validated, and recognized. In social media that means a comment on a post or retweet. Social media is engaging in a two-way conversation. So if no one acknowledges our work and engages with us, does that mean it stinks? If a tree falls in the forest…

Here are five things to consider if you’re frustrated by a lack of comments on your blog: 

1. Avoid using the wrong metrics. Just because no one commented doesn’t mean your post wasn’t read. It’s like a radio station that’s giving away concert tickets. If only five people called in to win, it doesn’t mean only five people were listening. It takes a lot to motivate people to do something. Don’t jump to hasty conclusions.

2. Get over yourself. Did you write your post with the intention of getting approval or validation from others? I imagine most people write to share good content and help others. Eleven-year-old’s hope for validation on their new clothes or gadgets. ”Did Emma really like my new jeans from Aeropostale?!” If you are ok with what you have done —blog post or jeans —then all is well. We’re adults. Leave the shrieking and whining to the kids.

3. Keep in mind that some people are shy. I coach some of them. Many are working hard to become more extroverted, both online and in person. They shy away from offering comments and participating in chats.  It doesn’t mean they’re uninterested or didn’t read your material.  They prefer to hover.   

4. Take the time to practice. Writing is a creative art that many people struggle with. It takes time, practice, and yes mistakes to improve. Keep working at it without worrying that you only have a small following (and no comments). Consider this a benefit that you are not stumbling in front of a huge crowd. Once you start to perfect the craft, you’ll see that people will be there to read, and comment. 

5. Think about others. Writing comments takes time and thought. Some people just can’t spare one or both. A reader may be inspired or touched by what you’ve written, but they may not have the time needed to send you something thoughtful. So they don’t. Blogging and commenting (the good comments) require critical thinking skills.    

If you want more perspectives on blogging — from Seth Godin and Tom Peters — read this. 

Filed Under: Blogging, content, Social Media, Writing Tagged With: , ,

10 Sound Bites and Quotes from the Rescued Miners

by at 4:04 am Leave a Comment

miners exit mineshaftReporters and news pros around the world are already jockeying to snag the first interview with just one of the rescued miners in Chile.

While we wait for these brave men to recover from their ordeal, I wanted to share ten sound bites and quotable quotes uttered when the  survivors were brought to the surface. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone what I overheard.

1. I have great content for my blog. Wow!

2.  No thanks Procter and Gamble. I don’t want to be a spokesman for your new deodorant.

3.  Damn, I could have scheduled 70 days worth of Tweets.

4.  I knew Courtney Cox would leave that bum Arquette –just in time!

5.  I’d like to thank my family for deleting the following songs from my i-Pod: “I Feel the Earth Move Under my Feet” by Carole King and  “The Fire Down Below” by Bob Seger.

6.  I never did like that dress code at work.

7.  Did anyone Tivo the new season of “Jersey Shore?”

8.  Elliot Spitzer on CNN?! I thought my nightmare was over.

9.  No way Verizon, I am NOT paying the $93,000 bill you texted to me on September 27th. Your roaming charges are outrageous!

10.  So cool! We beat Larry King in the ratings.

Welcome home.

Filed Under: Blogging, Communication, media, News, publicity, Social Media, Social Networking Tagged With: , , , , , ,

5 Ways to Think Like a News Reporter

by at 1:42 pm 5 Comments

Kid pitching baseballI can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the phrase, “Think like a reporter.”

Instructors, media pros, and PR wonks tell laymen this all the time. But what does it really mean? How do reporters think? And why do you need to be privy to this information?

You can’t effectively pitch stories to anyone in traditional or social media if you don’t understand how their minds operate.

I was a news reporter. Please, allow me.

Here are five tips to help you figure out what they are looking for in a story.

1. Answer the question: “Who cares?” Every time someone pitched me a story, the overriding, nagging question in my mind as I listened or read was, “Who cares? Why should I cover this story?”  When you write your pitch or press release, be sure you can answer that question. This is about the content the reporter or blogger provides to their core demographic; their audience. Consider this powerful statement: How does my story affect and impact their audience?

2. Understand the medium. Some stories have great visuals and are perfect for TV, video or print. For example, the demolition of a sporting arena is visually appealing but isn’t as impactful for radio news. Think about the elements available to you and how they can complement your words and storytelling.

3. Put a face on your story. News is about people. People love great stories. Yes, a quote from an author, CEO, or board member can suffice, but it’s dull. Look for a person who has been directly affected by your news. They will tell a much better and different tale. They can get to the emotion because they actually experienced something. That, my friends, is the connection to the audience. It’s all about the human factor.

4. Find something new. A good reporter will ask the question, “What’s new here? Has something happened that we haven’t covered yet?” Look for new statistics, updates, or a fresh angle.  Clue: In the word “news” is the word “new.”

5. Give them the right tools. Like you, news decision makers want things to help make their jobs easier. I worked in radio. People would send me cheesy pictures in the mail of their CEO accepting some award. Forget the picture (this was pre-Internet). I needed a voice; a sound bite for my on-air newscasts. Come on, could I go into the news booth and hold up the goofy picture of the CEO and his award? Of course not. The PR person could have easily called me and arranged for the CEO to speak with me for literally two minutes so I could record the conversation and get his audio on the air. Instead, the picture and story landed in the trash. So did their credibility. You may notice that common sense is helpful.

In the end, reporters tend to be naysayers. They are so inundated with irrelevant phone calls, e-mails, texts, and general crap that it’s easy to become jaded. Mix in lousy pay, a fiercely competitive industry, and crazy hours. The mindset of, “Make my day” rules their world. It’s your job to do just that–make their day.


(Photo Credit: Jonathan Rossi)

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Communication, content, Creativity, media, News, Public Relations, publicity, Social Media, Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Hello, my name is dumbass

by at 1:20 pm 13 Comments

Dunce capSometimes you just have to break out of your shell and do something a bit daring. Hence the title of this post.

In my Social Media travels, I’ve made note of five things that can stop people from reading your blog, visiting your site, connecting with you…and buying from you. 

The  five items below can negatively impact your credibility and online image. Here they are, in no particular order.

1. A Tweet that says “I just worked all day on my new blog post. Read it at________.”  A touch of Jersey sarcasm here, but no one cares about how long you struggled to create your genius post. Just tell me what benefit it offers to me (your reader)–what can I learn from your prose and insights. It’s not about you, silly. It’s all about me.

2. Please RT. I’ve always been a bit rebellious, so don’t tell me what to do. If I like it, I know I can re-tweet it. Now sit down, Skippy.

3. A message or Tweet that says “I need 12 more followers.” Please refer to Rule #14-C in the Social Media handbook. It’s about quality relationships and not quantity. Quit counting and start creating. Then you’ll have plenty of followers and you won’t need to beg. Desperation is very unappealing in the marketplace.

4. A profile that claims you’re a leader in your industry, and you just joined Twitter last month. This raises a red flag. If you’re in marketing, public relations, branding, or advertising, tell me this: Where have you been??

5. A message or headline that includes words like “new” , “trends”, and “top” —and when I click the link, the article or post is a year old. In the digital time zone, that belongs in the Smithsonian.  Take a minute to freshen up your Tweet. Hey, we’re in real time.

I vented. I feel much better. You?

(Photo Credit: Cracker Country Living History)

Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Communication, Marketing, Social Media, Social Networking, Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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