How and Why to Use Facebook Dark Posts

Posted on April 6, 2016April 7, 2016 by sitemanager

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Facebook is a powerful marketing tool for small business owners to promote their respective brands. According to the Pew Internet Project, approximately 71% of adults in the United States use Facebook. So regardless of your business's niche or industry, your target audience is probably using Facebook. However, Facebook announced last year that it would be showing fewer promotional posts in users' news feeds. This means any posts you create to promote your product, service or brand may go largely unseen by your audience. The good news is you can still connect with your audience on Facebook b...

How to Make Your Blog Posts Stand Out

Posted on March 16, 2016April 5, 2016 by sitemanager

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With more than 152 million blogs and counting, it's often difficult for new bloggers to develop a strong following. This problem is compounded by the fact that many industries and niches are riddled with competition. But the good news is that you can differentiate yourself from the crowd by focusing on unique, high-quality blog posts. Here's how to make your blog posts stand out. Write Longer Posts If you asked ten different professional bloggers what the ideal length is for a blog post, you would probably get ten different answers. Some prefer shorter posts consisting of 200 to 300 words, w...

5 Ways to Improve Your Blog Right Now

Posted on March 14, 2016April 5, 2016 by sitemanager

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You can always find ways to improve your blog -- some are quick and simple, some take a bit more time. Here are some ideas! Create an Email Newsletter Why should you create an email newsletter for your blog? The real question to ask is why shouldn't you (hint: there is no reason not to). Launching an email newsletter will allow you to collect the email addresses of your blog's readers, which you can then use later for marketing and advertising purposes. Just place a newsletter signup widget in a highly visible location of your blog and ask visitors to enter their email address. Respond to M...

Local Search Optimization Tips for Blogs

Posted on March 9, 2016March 9, 2016 by sitemanager

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Still struggling to achieve a top search ranking with your blog for local, Geo-driven keywords and queries? If you own a small local business, a blog can help to attract new customers -- but only if people in and around your area see it. This is where local search optimization (LSO) comes into play: by performing various on-site and off-site optimization tactics, you can encourage higher search rankings for local searches. Include Contact Information as Plain Text If you aren't doing so already, add your business's contact information -- in plain text format -- to your blog. This includes yo...

The Do’s and Don’ts of Using Images in Blog Posts

Posted on March 9, 2016April 5, 2016 by sitemanager

A picture really is worth a thousand words. Using images in blog posts will make them more appealing, which subsequently lowers your blog's bounce rate while improving user experience. But there are a few things you should know about using images in blog posts. Don't Use Images Without Permission I know this probably sounds like common sense, but it's still worth mentioning -- you should never use an image without the owner's permission. Just because you see an image that you like doesn't necessarily mean that you can use it on your blog. Copying and uploading images to your blog could op...

How to Attract More Comments on Your Blog

Posted on March 7, 2016March 9, 2016 by sitemanager

A blog is an excellent platform for showcasing content while generating a strong response among readers. Because they are more personal and time-sensitive than traditional websites, they typically receive more comments. But you can go one step further by utilizing the following tips to encourage even more visitor comments. The Importance of Visitor Comments Why are visitor comments important for blogs? While there's no rule stating that you must allow visitors to submit comments, doing so will almost certainly prove beneficial. Fresh Content: For every comment a visitor makes, your blog re...

5 Things to Consider When Choosing Guest Bloggers

Posted on March 3, 2016March 9, 2016 by sitemanager

All bloggers hit this wall at some point -- staring at our screen and wondering what to blog about. Sometimes the muse just isn't there and we run out of creative ideas. This is just one reason to consider inviting guest bloggers to submit content to your blog on occasion. Inviting guest bloggers to submit content is also an excellent way to enhance your blog with commentary from a different perspective. Before you race out and start inviting guest bloggers, here are a few things to consider first. Competitor or Parallel to Your Blog Niche? It's a bad idea to recruit guest bloggers who ar...

How to ‘Wake Up’ a Dormant Blog

Posted on February 24, 2016March 6, 2016 by sitemanager

Has it been months or even years since you've published a new post on your blog? It's no secret that blogs thrive on fresh, high-quality content. So when you neglect to publish content, the blog may sink down into the abyss where countless others remain, only to receive a small trickle of traffic. But before you delete your dormant blog, you should first attempt to wake it following the steps listed below. Change the Design The first step in waking up a dormant blog is to change the design. Both search engines and human visitors will take notice of your blog's new design, increasing its enga...

Do I Need a Blog if I Already Have a Website?

Posted on February 24, 2016March 6, 2016 by sitemanager

Ask any seasoned business owner and he or she will agree: a website is no longer a luxury for running a successful business; it's a requirement. Even if you don't use it to sell a product or service, having a website instills greater trust in your target audience while helping to establish greater brand recognition. But if you already have a website, you might be wondering whether or not you need a blog -- a question that we're going to answer today. Blog vs Website Before we reveal whether or not you need a blog, let's first discuss the nuances between blogs and websites. While a blog is es...

Common Myths and Misconceptions About Blogging

Posted on February 23, 2016March 1, 2016 by sitemanager

Blogs Cannot be Monetized This is one of many myths that couldn't be further from the truth. Regardless of your blog's niche, it can almost certainly generate revenue -- assuming it has a decent amount of traffic. One of the easiest ways to monetize a blog is to display cost-per-click (CPC) advertisements like Google Adsense, which pay you a small amount (usually $0.05 to $0.25 cents) for each click. That being said, don't quit your day job and expect to support yourself on blogging revenues! The vast majority of bloggers who try to earn money from blogging do not earn enough to replace a ...

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