What’s More Important for Bloggers, Style or Content?

Some people believe that good writing will always win out. A good writer will be read, regardless of what they write about.

Other people believe that content alone is king. If you have great information, it’ll be read – even if the way it’s written isn’t so good.

Personally, I think the truth lies somewhere between these two extremes.

On the one hand, content matters: if you have nothing to say, you’re unlikely to find an audience. Style won’t win out over substance.

But on the flip side, content alone isn’t quite enough. After all, which post would you rather read?

“Ten WordPress Tips”“Ten Easy Ways to Get the Most From Your WordPress Blog – Today”

I think you’ll agree that the second one sounds much more enticing … even though both posts might have the exact same information.

If you know you’re a good writer but you’re struggling to build an audience, the problem might lie with your content.

To improve, try:

Asking your readers what they want you to write about. You might be surprised!Focusing on giving value with every post – ask yourself “what will the reader get out of this?”Writing list posts or “how to” posts – these are easy ways to offer something useful.Narrowing down your niche – focus on one key topic area, rather than writing about anything and everything that interests you.

If you’re packing your posts full of value but not getting much response, the problem might lie with your style.

To improve, try:

Spending more time editing each post after you write it. Try reading it aloud to get the flow of sentences and paragraphs right.Crafting great titles and gripping introductions that hook your readers and encourage them to read on.Writing in a friendly, direct way, as though you’re addressing just one person. Use “you” more than you use “I”.Asking a friend to review your post and point out areas where the writing could be improved.

I’d love to hear what you think about style vs content. Do you feel that your strengths lie more in one area than the other? Do you prefer blogs with useful, in-depth content, or ones with a great writing style that makes for enjoyable reading? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Ali Luke is a writer and blogger, and author of Publishing E-Books For Dummies. She runs a teaching / community site for writers and bloggers, Writers’ Huddle, which has just opened for new members. Join now to take her eight-week Blog On ecourse – where you’ll learn all about different post and page types – and to get access to the archive of seminars, mini-courses, and more. All the details are here.

Sign-up to the Daily Blog Tips newsletter and you will be able to download the "Make Money Blogging" eBook for free (worth $47).You will also receive tips to improve your blog, strategies to make money and useful resources from around the web.

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Why Connecting With And Building Your Community Is So Important

 

If you take a look around at the most successful people in the room. If you look at their habits, what they do, what they don’t do, you will find one commonality. I remember first recognizing it in late 2008 and I still see it today. I know I will continue to see it.

It’s this magical principle of having a community.

Those who are most successful don’t just have some great product, or a big brand, or a secret traffic strategy, or get rich quick formula.

They have created a community.

So how do you do that?

At first, it might sometimes feel like everyone is preaching to the choir.

Whether it’s your fellow Renegade Team community, or the ViSalus community, or the Empower Network community, or the Warrior forum community, or the Better Networker community, you’re just starting out. You’re interacting a lot with the same people.

It’s absolutely NOT a waste of time.

There are some important reasons why you will benefit from this preaching to the choir so-to-speak.

You want to appear (and actually become) a social contributor.

It has to start somewhere. It’s part of the oft-used phrase, “Give value.”

Understand that as prospects find you at your blog, or Facebook, or Twitter, or Google Plus or YouTube (or other social networking locations) it is extremely helpful they see that you’re braided into a social network. That you’re a part of the fabric.

This is why it’s encouraged to have friends, fans, followers, comments, etc.

This is why we are building out The Renegade Blog guest blog program (for our Inner Circle members).

And social proof is a win win win situation for everyone involved.

It also shows that other people see you as a valuable contributor to the marketplace. That’s in itself is attractive.

No one talks to the wall flowers. You wouldn’t stand alone behind the tree in the shade at a BBQ would you? (or anywhere people are connecting with one another).

Well, you also don’t want to stand alone on the web (blogs, social networks, forums, etc.).

If you did, it makes you appear to be a loner, and that implies (whether it’s true or not) that you aren’t a go-giver. That you don’t belong. That you have no value.

This isn’t about being popular.

It’s about circling yourself with others, particularly when they are affirming your points, shining a spotlight on those who are doing it well, occasionally sharing your value in the mix. It makes you more credible.

From a more technical stand point:

Having a group of people who link to your stuff and/or comment on it too whether it’s the walled off garden of Facebook or the Google or Bing web, it improves your rankings. Because the Internet has, and always will view community connection as a sign you are valuable to others (as long as it’s natural and not some “game” you’ve got on autopilot. That rarely lasts long anyway).

That’s why social networking sites have grown so fast and are so powerful. They are the essence of “attraction marketing” because they are built on true human interaction and the exchange of valuable information, commonalities and shared values. They automatically (and quickly) reward those who are involved, interacting, and contributing.

There’s the fine line that many of you haven’t quite figured out yet. Don’t EVER tell yourself or make the excuse that you were busy networking if it comes at the cost of you building out the true foundations of your business.

Don’t let the resistance beat you with that excuse. Not allowed.

Find a way to do sew yourself into the fabric of a community (or communities) without it taking a lot of time. Without it taking away from building the core of your business i.e. your marketing funnel.

Find a way to make your rounds and more social in-roads so people think you’re “everywhere.” Again, without it taking away from more direct ROI activities (like getting targeted traffic to that funnel).

These days, funnel creation and social networking work hand-in-glove.

Similary, it’s also why getting your funnel built is so important. You can get targeted traffic from sewing yourself into the fabric of a community. When you do, you BETTER have a gift waiting for them (which they get with email address).

In conclusion, community connecting and building is very important even if it feels like you’re preaching with the choir. It’s beautiful music which makes the web go round. It also provides social proof. In tandem with having a marketing funnel built, it’s on every success leader and business person’s track record.

Do more of it!

Whether you’re a Renegade community member or a member of another community, don’t slow down with it. Keep it up. Multiply what you’re doing by 10. The trick is to not make it seem like work. Don’t let it take a ton of your time.

Leave a comment if you understand. Preach to the choir! Give an example. Write something that adds-on to this idea. Disagree! Make yourself known. Then share it.

Eric is 80/20 Marketing Inc's in-house marketing collaborator. He works with Ann Sieg and team on all aspects of business building. Suffice to say, Eric is a marketing dork by day. By night, he burns the midnight oil scribbling poetic raps on yellow legal pad paper. Friend or subscribe to his daily Facebook updates to get a dose of his antics.

View the original article here

What’s More Important for Bloggers, Style or Content?

Jotkut ihmiset uskovat, että hyvä kirjallisesti aina voittaa. Hyvä kirjailija luetaan riippumatta siitä, mitä he kirjoittavat.

Muut ihmiset uskovat, että sisältö yksin on kuningas. Jos sinulla on paljon tietoa, se voidaan lukea-vaikka on kirjoitettu tapa ei ole niin hyvä.

Henkilökohtaisesti uskon, että totuus on jossain näiden kahden ääripään välillä.

Toisaalta, sisältöä asioissa: Jos sinulla ei ole mitään sanottavaa, olet todennäköisesti löytää yleisöä. Tyyli ei voittaa yli ainetta.

Mutta takasivulla, sisällön yksin ei aivan riitä. Loppujen lopuksi joka postitse voit mieluummin lukea?

"Kymmenen WordPress vinkkejä" "Kymmenen helppoja tapoja saada irti sinun WordPress Blog-tänään"

Mielestäni sinun mieltä, että toinen kuulostaa paljon houkuttelevampi... vaikka molemmat virat olisi täsmälleen samat tiedot.

Jos olet hyvä kirjoittaja, mutta olet kamppailee rakentaa yleisölle, ongelma saattaa olla sisältöä.

Parantamiseksi, kokeile:

Pyytää lukijat, mitä he haluavat sinun kirjoittaa. Saatat yllättyä!Keskittymällä Antaessaan arvo jokaisen post-kysy itseltäsi, "mitä lukija saa pois tämä?"Kirjallisesti luettelo virkaa tai "Miten" virkaa-nämä ovat helppoja tapoja tarjota jotain hyödyllistä.Supistaen omalla kapealla – keskitytään yksi keskeinen aihealue, sen sijaan, kirjoittaa mitään ja kaikki, joka kiinnostaa sinua.

Jos olet pakkaus täynnä arvo, mutta ei saada paljon vastaus virkaa, ongelma voisi piillä tyyliäsi.

Parantamiseksi, kokeile:

Käyttää enemmän aikaa editointi kunkin postitse, kun kirjoitat sen. Kokeile lukea se ääneen saada kulkua lauseita ja kappaleita oikea.Askartelu hienoja otsikoita ja mukaansatempaava esittelyt, että koukku lukijat ja kannustaa niitä lukea.Kirjallisesti ystävällinen, välitön tavalla, ikään kuin puuttua vain yksi henkilö. Käytä "sinä" enemmän kuin käytät "I".Pyytää ystävä arvostelu viestisi ja aloja, joilla voitaisiin parantaa kirjallisesti huomauttaa.

Olisi kiva kuulla, mitä mieltä olette tyyli vs sisältö. Tuntuuko sinusta, sinun vahvuuksia yhdellä alueella enemmän kuin muut? Haluatko Blogit hyödyllistä, syvällinen sisältö tai niistä on hyvä kirjallinen tyyli, joka on nautittavaa luettavaa? Jaa ajatuksiasi kommentit alla.

Ali Luke on kirjailija ja bloggaaja ja kirjoittaja Publishing E-kirjat For Dummies. Hän toimii opetus / yhteisön sivuston kirjailijat ja bloggaajia, kirjailijoiden värjötellä, joka on juuri avannut uusia jäseniä. Liity nyt ottaa hänen kahdeksan viikon blogi On Verkkokoulu-jossa voit oppia kaikki eri posti- ja sivutyypit – ja panna pääsy jotta arkisto seminaareja ja mini-kursseja. Kaikki tiedot ovat täällä.

Daily Blog Tips Tilaa uutiskirje ja voi ladata "Make Money Blogging" eBook ilmaiseksi (arvo 47 dollaria).Saat myös vinkkejä parantaa sinun blog strategiat tehdä rahaa ja hyödyllisiä resursseja ympäri web.

View the original article here

Why Connecting With And Building Your Community Is So Important

If you take a look around at the most successful people in the room. If you look at their habits, what they do, what they don’t do, you will find one commonality. I remember first recognizing it in late 2008 and I still see it today. I know I will continue to see it.

It’s this magical principle of having a community.

Those who are most successful don’t just have some great product, or a big brand, or a secret traffic strategy, or get rich quick formula.

They have created a community.

So how do you do that?

At first, it might sometimes feel like everyone is preaching to the choir.

Whether it’s your fellow Renegade Team community, or the ViSalus community, or the Empower Network community, or the Warrior forum community, or the Better Networker community, you’re just starting out. You’re interacting a lot with the same people.

It’s absolutely NOT a waste of time.

There are some important reasons why you will benefit from this preaching to the choir so-to-speak.

You want to appear (and actually become) a social contributor.

It has to start somewhere. It’s part of the oft-used phrase, “Give value.”

Understand that as prospects find you at your blog, or Facebook, or Twitter, or Google Plus or YouTube (or other social networking locations) it is extremely helpful they see that you’re braided into a social network. That you’re a part of the fabric.

This is why it’s encouraged to have friends, fans, followers, comments, etc.

This is why we are building out The Renegade Blog guest blog program (for our Inner Circle members).

And social proof is a win win win situation for everyone involved.

It also shows that other people see you as a valuable contributor to the marketplace. That’s in itself is attractive.

No one talks to the wall flowers. You wouldn’t stand alone behind the tree in the shade at a BBQ would you? (or anywhere people are connecting with one another).

Well, you also don’t want to stand alone on the web (blogs, social networks, forums, etc.).

If you did, it makes you appear to be a loner, and that implies (whether it’s true or not) that you aren’t a go-giver. That you don’t belong. That you have no value.

This isn’t about being popular.

It’s about circling yourself with others, particularly when they are affirming your points, shining a spotlight on those who are doing it well, occasionally sharing your value in the mix. It makes you more credible.

From a more technical stand point:

Having a group of people who link to your stuff and/or comment on it too whether it’s the walled off garden of Facebook or the Google or Bing web, it improves your rankings. Because the Internet has, and always will view community connection as a sign you are valuable to others (as long as it’s natural and not some “game” you’ve got on autopilot. That rarely lasts long anyway).

That’s why social networking sites have grown so fast and are so powerful. They are the essence of “attraction marketing” because they are built on true human interaction and the exchange of valuable information, commonalities and shared values. They automatically (and quickly) reward those who are involved, interacting, and contributing.

There’s the fine line that many of you haven’t quite figured out yet. Don’t EVER tell yourself or make the excuse that you were busy networking if it comes at the cost of you building out the true foundations of your business.

Don’t let the resistance beat you with that excuse. Not allowed.

Find a way to do sew yourself into the fabric of a community (or communities) without it taking a lot of time. Without it taking away from building the core of your business i.e. your marketing funnel.

Find a way to make your rounds and more social in-roads so people think you’re “everywhere.” Again, without it taking away from more direct ROI activities (like getting targeted traffic to that funnel).

These days, funnel creation and social networking work hand-in-glove.

Similary, it’s also why getting your funnel built is so important. You can get targeted traffic from sewing yourself into the fabric of a community. When you do, you BETTER have a gift waiting for them (which they get with email address).

In conclusion, community connecting and building is very important even if it feels like you’re preaching with the choir. It’s beautiful music which makes the web go round. It also provides social proof. In tandem with having a marketing funnel built, it’s on every success leader and business person’s track record.

Do more of it!

Whether you’re a Renegade community member or a member of another community, don’t slow down with it. Keep it up. Multiply what you’re doing by 10. The trick is to not make it seem like work. Don’t let it take a ton of your time.

Leave a comment if you understand. Preach to the choir! Give an example. Write something that adds-on to this idea. Disagree! Make yourself known. Then share it.

Eric is 80/20 Marketing Inc's in-house marketing collaborator. He works with Ann Sieg and team on all aspects of business building. Suffice to say, Eric is a marketing dork by day. By night, he burns the midnight oil scribbling poetic raps on yellow legal pad paper. Friend or subscribe to his daily Facebook updates to get a dose of his antics.

View the original article here