Tag Archives: Blogging

Bloggers Group Meets Up for Discussions

Blogging, Marketing, Marketing Blogs, , ,

ABC Akron Bloggers CommunityYesterday at the ABC Akron Bloggers Community meet-up we had a lot of lively discussion in a just an  hour and a half:

  • Where to look for tips to drive traffic to the blog
  • How to write content faster
  • Where to find good photos to illustrate your posts
  • How to size photos faster
  • Social media how-to’s and a seminar series
  • Writing guest postings — pro’s and con’s
  • Offering guest postings on your blog — pro’s and con’s
  • Book reviews and why they are growing medium
  • How to figure out to figure out what blog topic to focus on when you’re trying to get started
  • Which software to use when you want to start a quick blog for a mini topic
  • Long tail results and how to encourage more of them
  • New keyword analysis tools that help to tag and help interested readers to self identify

You can do a lot by reading everything you can find on the internet, but actually sitting down and having a cup of coffee with folks who do this all the time is a great boost for a blogger.

Because we have experienced bloggers and newbies in the group, there are all levels of questions, answers and discussions going on.  We’ve found that everyone has something to offer. 

If you’re in NE Ohio and working on your blog or starting a new one, you may want to consider joining us at our next meet up: Feb 25, 9:30 to 11, Mocha Joes Coffee House 3707 Darrow Road at 91 and Graham in Stow, Ohio 44224.

RSVP here, (not required.)

Should a Blog be part of your Marketing Program?

Branding Blogs, Marketing Blogs,

In 1997, when I worked at a large corporation, I remember the marketing discussions “Do we really need a website?”  “We have the 800 number, why do we need a website?”  “If we do, who is in charge of it? How do we do it? What are we trying to accomplish with it?”

Now I am hearing the same questions about blogs.

Is the idea of a blog as a tool in your marketing program met with a nervous laugh?  Take a look at this video clip of business leaders Tom Peters (best selling author, management visionary) and Seth Godin (marketing guru), because it tells another story.

Tom Peters: My first post was in August 2004. No single thing in the last 15 years professionally has been more important to my life than blogging. It has changed my life. it has changed my perspective, it has changed my intellictualual outlook. It’s changed my emotional outlook.. (And it’s the best damn marketing tool by an order of magnitude I’ve ever had.)

Seth Godin: And it’s free.

Tom Peters: And it’s free.

Hat tip to Blog Squad’s Denise Wakeman for her post “Tom Peters says it’s the Best Damn Marketing Tool”.

Mack Collier of The Viral Garden explained it to me this way:

How can I convince a client whose only exposure to blogging is his teenager’s MySpace antics?

By telling them that it gives your company a human voice, and it helps you understand what your customers want, and it helps your customers understand what you can give them.

And add that people will buy from companies that listen to them and reach out to them, and that’s what a blog does.

Is your company still just considering a blog? Are you thinking about using a blog for your business marketing program? Or have you started to answer the questions to get this marketing tool moving and building a community?

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Available on Amazon: Age of Conversation2

Marketing, , ,

If you bought it, please review it. If you haven’t had chance to order it, now’s your chance, it’s on Amazon.

The Age of Conversation2 is a resource of information and insights. Its a great gift to a business friend or associate who is talking about social media, web2.0 and blogging, but hasn’t got their arms around it yet. With 237 knowledgeable authors, this collaborative book is a must read. Plus, all the profits go to a Children’s Charity. Order the Age of Conversation2 from Amazon today.

ABC Akron Bloggers Community Share Blog Marketing Tips

Blogging, Marketing, Marketing - General, Marketing Blogs, ,

The Akron Bloggers Community got together yesterday at the Arabica Coffee Shop in Stow Ohio to swap marketing tips and catch up with new events in our blogs and businesses.

Just a few of the highlights:

Stephen Hopson will be the closing Keynote Speaker the National Tractor Association Meeting next month. UPDATED 7/1/08: Stephen’s Keynote speech is in Berea, OH for the National Tractors Parts Association in July - doing a keynote closing presentation called “Transforming Adversity Into Success.” He joins Jim Cermak on July 15 at Panera Bread in Medina Ohio to deliver his “HEAR” Principle for overcoming adversity. Stephen is also waiting to hear from major publisher and literary agent on the status of a book proposal for his first-ever book, which will be a collection of first person narration stories about events that have happened in my life including some of the funniest, most embarrassing and scariest moments.

I leave tonight withDeborah Chaddock Brown and Norma Rist for Pod Cast Camp in Columbus PodCampOhio for an all day session on Saturday.

Ron McDaniel recently launched a Buzz Assistant Network to help companies who want a Web2.0 buzz but aren’t sure how to do it. He’s looking for more assistants to help support all the leads coming his way. It’s a win-win for the assistants and the companies. Very clever!

We’ve decided to meet once a month at the same place each time. When we tried to vary to location and time/dates to accomodate everyone’s schedule, it just wasn’t working for the group and we ended up not meeting for a while.
Next Meet up: July 31st 9:30 am at the Arabica in Stow Ohio.