Top 7 Tips to Write an Effective Blog
By Debbie Weil
I contributed this article to the forthcoming Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters due out in October, 2005 and co-authored by David Perry with Jay Conrad Levinson. The premise is how to blog your way to a new job but the tips apply equally to writing a blog that effectively markets you or your company.
Here are my Top 7 Tips To Write an Effective Blog:
"Think of a blog as the 3D version of your resume or capabilities statement. One in which you
provide context and meaning to the work experience and educational background you've so carefully wordsmithed in your resume or showcased on your site..."
Continue reading Top 7 Tips to Write an Effective Blog
Dirty secret of publishing a blog vs. an HTML e-newsletter
If you're debating whether to launch a spiffy-looking HTML e-newsletter or start a blog... seriously consider the latter.
Here's why: once you have a blog template set up (quite simple to do if you use a hosted service like TypePad.com) it's the work of 15 minutes to write a short, pithy paragraph and publish it to your snazzy blog site.
In contrast, I maintain that you cannot produce and send a properly formatted HTML newsletter, no matter how short and pithy, in less than two hours.
You MUST check your links, send test copies and otherwise correctly configure your HTML template in whatever email service you are using. Once you publish, cross your figures and pray that your new issue will make its way through spam filters to your readers.
Yes, I am simplifying a complicated issue. An e-newsletter is pushed to your readers via the universally understood channel of email. A blog can also be pushed to your readers... but via the much less well understood - and adopted - channel of RSS.
(And even RSS has its problems. Read my blog post: Will RSS simplify your life?)
But if you add up writing, editing and production time, a blog wins hands down.
Want to weigh in on publishing a blog vs. an e-newsletter? Go to BlogWrite and post your comment at the bottom of the page. It's easy and quick, I promise. I'd love to hear your take on this. - DW
Pub Note: join me at the ContentBiz Summit in New York on May 10-11, 2005
This is one of my favorite conferences. It's two intense days filled with content pros from The Wall Street Journal, High Beam Research, Playboy.com, AsktheBuilder.com and other subscription-based sites.
Whether you're selling subscriptions to gated content - or generating high-value leads - you'll never look at your Web site again the same way.
Sign up before the end of the day Friday, March 18th and you'll save $100. You can still register after that but you'll miss the early-bird price. Oh, and this is one of those conferences that really does fill up. So don't wait if you're interested.
Let me know if you decide to come and we'll get together for coffee or something stronger (espresso??).
Warm regards,
President/Publisher, WordBiz.com, Inc.
MonaLisaOfBlogging.com
Blog Coaching for CEOs
direct: +1 202.364.5705
wordbiz @ gmail dot com
 P.S. Need a dynamite speaker or consultant on the what, why and how of adding a blog to your online marketing strategy? Call me at 202.364.5705 or email wordbiz@gmail.com.
|
|
|
Download a $10 Guide to Killer Online Copywriting |
|
|
