While I was on my recent dream vacation in Peru, I practiced what I preach to my clients, and invited several clients and colleaugues to share guest posts on DeniseWakeman.com. After all, I didn’t want my blog to go dark for two weeks and I was so busy before I left, I didn’t have time to do a lot of advance writing. 

Three posts stood out because they focused on business blogging and I want to make sure you don’t miss them. All are worth the time to read and share your thoughts and comments.

How to Be an Ideal Guest Blogger by Rebecca Livermore
Four excellent etiquette tips if you want to get your guest posts accepted on influential blogs.

What Blogging Can Teach You about Yourself by Kim Gusta
The surprising results a reluctant blogger got when she decided she wanted more visibility for her business.

10 Ways to Save Time and Energy Blogging by Tom Treanor
Be sure to read the comments to learn additional tips for saving time on your blogging!

 There was also a post by Nicole Dean on The Future of Ink, that’s a great tip for bloggers as well…

Become Famous Like Oprah. Publish Collaborative Blog Posts

P.S. I’ve wanted to go to Peru and experience Machu Picchu for about 20+…that’s why I’m so excited in the picture above! I’m working on an article and webinar on what you can learn about business from trekking in the Andes (check out some of my pictures). Stay tuned…

Related articles

Guest Posting Ebook – How to Boost Traffic, Authority and Credibility

This is a guest post from Linda Dessau of ContentMasteryGuide.com.

Facebook expert Mari Smith recently reported on the results of her social media survey. It was no surprise to read that an overwhelming number of responders reported that time is their biggest marketing challenge.

In order to effectively attract clients with your business blog, you must publish new content consistently. For some, that may mean starting out with a monthly post and then gradually increasing. Others might be ready for a weekly blogging routine. 

Whether you’re starting a new blog or just trying to keep your blog going, how do you find the time to write?

Here are 10 concrete actions you can take to get your blogging done:

1. Batch your tasks - Separating your different blog writing tasks will make the most efficient use of your time and energy, and you’ll accomplish more in less time. For example, if you’re feeling creative, do some brainstorming; if you’re feeling tired, shop around for some stock photos. And don’t stop with one post; use that same mindset to work ahead on the next few. 
2. Be purposeful on social media - As soon as you publish a new post and it’s fresh in your mind, preschedule 3-4 updates to announce the post to your social networks. That way the broadcasting task of your social networking is done, and it won’t get pushed aside or delayed if you get lost in the online conversation.
3. Plan ahead - Have you ever zigzagged through the aisles of a grocery store because you didn’t have a list? You’ll also spend more time on your blogging if you don’t have a plan. Your blogging plan may include laying out your blog categories, following a weekly blogging system or using a weekly/monthly blog planner. 
4. Blog on the go - Grab some blogging time while you’re standing in line or waiting for an appointment. You may not be at your freshest creative time, but you can come back to polish later. Save and store your work online, either as a draft post in your blogging platform or in a system like Dropbox or Evernote.
5. Maximize your brain power - Give your blog the best part of your day. You’ll get more done faster because you’re at the peak of your creativity.
6. Share the work – Invite people with related expertise to submit a guest blog post, interview experts in your field, or ask your staff, vendors or customers to get involved. You may even want to buddy up with a group of like-minded businesses to create a team blog. 
7. Fire your inner critic – Refuse to spend another moment questioning or second-guessing your expertise or writing talent. Instead, ask for feedback from a trusted source who understands the perspective of your ideal client, or hire an editor. This will free you to write and then move on. 
8. Revise an old post – Did you know that this blog post started out as Five Ways to Find More Time for Content Marketing, published in July 2011? And there are other ways to start with existing content, such as paring down a longer piece or beefing up a shorter piece. 
9. Bring the news to you – If your blog antennae are feeling a little rusty or you’re just not hearing anything you can use, have some backup sources you can quickly browse for relevant topics. Set up Google Alerts, an RSS reader or use a site like Alltop that pulls together the best content in one place. You can also search for specific terms in social media, and then bookmark the search for regular use. 
10. Use a variety of content – Not every post needs to be a 500-word feature article. Write shorter posts like reviews or roundups, put together a before and after video or record a quick audio tip. There are many types of blog post content that can be fun and quick to put together. Experiment until you find yours.

There is no secret shortcut to blogging success. It takes time, energy and attention to attract clients this way. Use today’s tips to make the most of the time you have.

Linda Dessau, CPCC, is the author of Write Your Way to More Clients Online and the founder of ContentMasteryGuide.com and  GetWellnessBlogs.com. She offers ghostwriting, editing, training and consulting. Stay tuned for the upcoming release of Linda’s new e-book, How to Plant a Blogging Tree That Will Grow Your Business.

Do you have time management tips that could apply to blogging? How do you find time to blog?

Not having enough time to write blog posts is a lament I hear time and time again from online entrepreneurs…even though they KNOW the benefits of publishing consistent content on their blog.

Awhile back I wondered aloud if having a dedicated block of time, like a virtual blog writing day would help.

Many folks I asked gave me a resounding “Yes!”

So, I’m doing an experiment and have scheduled a Virtual Blog Writing Day…

Date: August 23, 2012
Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time (check your local time here)
Where: your computer
Cost: FREE… NO CHARGE…My gift to you! 

Here’s how I envision it working:

1. Starting at 9:00 am PT, everyone calls in to my conference line. I will share some tips, motivation and maybe some productivity tools to kick off the writing day. This will be no more than 30 minutes.
2. You ring off and work on your writing for 90 minutes.
3. We reconvene on my conference line at 11:00 am PT and report on success, challenges, Q&A for a maximum of 30 minutes.
4. You ring off and write for 90 minutes.
5. We reconvene at 1 pm PT – see #3

We’ll follow this format, meeting at 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm and have a final checkin celebration at 5 pm PT.

It’s totally up to you how you participate. Check in one time during the day or at every checkin. It’s your day, your schedule, you decide.

This is an opportunity to block off some time and commit to creating content you can queue on your blog for later publication so you don’t have to stress out about what you’re going to write!

Don’t like to write? Fine. Create videos or audios you can post.

Don’t need content for your blog? Fine. Maybe you’re working on an ebook or an article or a guest post for someone else’s blog. This is your time to focus on your content marketing and get support and accountability (if you want it).  

Are you in? 

You’re welcome to drop in during one of the scheduled checkins by calling (206) 402-0100 PIN Code: 664420# 

You can also sign up below and I’ll send you a couple of reminders as the day approaches. I may also send some tips and suggestions for how to prepare for the Virtual Blog Writing Day. There is no charge for this event. I’m not going to be selling anything. To be honest, I need this dedicated time to focus on cranking out some blog posts too…we’re in this together.

If you would like reminders and tips about the Virtual Blog Writing Day, sign up here:

Two requests:

1. Please share this opportunity with others in your community. You probably know a few people who could use this support too! Click here to tweet this event!
2. If you have specific questions about blogging, post them in the comments. I’ll review and answer questions that will benefit the group.

I look forward to blogging with you on August 23!

If you’re planning to attend all or part of the the Virtual Blog Writing Day on August 23, then I recommend you hit the ground running so you can easily tap into your creativity and achieve the goals you set for the day. As I’ve been planning how to facilitate the Virtual Blog Writing Day, I’ve come up with seven tips to help you prepare and be as productive as possible during the time you commit to your blog wrting.

1. Back to basics: what’s your primary message?

When you look at at the last 10 posts on your blog, are they on message? Do they reflect what you want readers and your prospective clients to know about you and your business? If it’s looking a little disjointed and confusing, answer these questions:

• What problems do you solve for your ideal client?
• What’s your BIG WHY? (Why are you doing what you do?)
• What is your specific expertise?
• What are the benefits of working with you? 

2. Who is your audience?

Write down a couple of sentences describing your idea reader or client. What are their pain points? What are their hot button issues? 

3. What’s your writing goal for Virtual Blog Writing Day? What do you want to accomplish today?

• How many posts completed and queued?
• How many drafts?
• Write a series going deep on a topic?
• Create content for a book?

 4. Make a list of content ideas. Write down at least 10 ideas for blog posts.

• 5 ideas for every category on your blog
• Burning questions your clients and prospects have about your business
• What’s new in your industry
• How-to tutorials
•  What are people in your industry talking about or asking about on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Quora?
• What do you want to know from your readers (poll)?

5. Find images you can use in your posts.

Once you have a list of at least 10 post ideas, find images to illustrate the ideas. Use royalty free images, Flickr, or Pinterest to find fun photos. Be sure to give proper attribution.

6. What’s your call to action?

Every blog post needs a strong call to action. What do you want your reader to do after they read your article? Comment, subscribe, register, call, buy?

 7. Whatever your goal is, commit to it.

Use a tool like Focus Booster to time yourself. Shut down your email and social networking sites. Whether your goal is to write one blog post or 10 blog posts, that’s up to you.

The intention I hold for you is that you make the time and create the content you want so you successfully meet your goal. That alone will serve to keep you motivated to continue your blogging and reap the rewards of more traffic, more subscribers, more opportunities and more visibility!

More information about the Virtual Blog Writing Day is here.

RECOMMENDED READING FOR PRODUCTIVE BLOGGING

How to Shave 20 Minutes Off Your Next Blog Post 

How to Write Multiple Blog Posts at One Time 

A Simple Plan for Writing One Piece of Powerful Online Content Per Week

The Essential Guide to Fearless Blogging

10 Tools to Help You Blog Better

As I prepped for Virtual Blog Writing Day (you’re welcome to join us!), looking for articles to help bloggers be productive, efficient and create great posts, I ran across this infographic from my colleague Derek Halpern of SocialTriggers.com. When creating your posts, this is a helpful guide for formatting your content.

How to Write the Perfect Blog Post 
(click on the link to see the infographic in full size).

Like this? Learn how to use psychology to get more traffic and sales with Social Triggers.

Let’s face it. Blogging IS Content Marketing. 

As you plan and organize the content you write that will attract the right readers, it’s generally agreed that it’s good to mix up the style of posts you write. You want to keep your readers interested and engaged. Consider how-to posts, case studies, Q&A, polls and interviews to name a few styles. However, by far the most popular type of post is the List Post. 

List posts are easy to scan and read, and they tend to get shared a lot.

In my travels around the web, I found a very cool list about why list articles are great for content marketing. You can even add your own reason to the list by clicking through see the full list.

What would you add to this list?

Related Post
The Ultimate Tool for Building a List Post 

It’s no secret that I read and share a lot of blogging articles and resources via my social networks. But, if you don’t follow me on Twitter or Facebook, then you may have missed some great blog posts about blogging…

First, I want to circle back and close the loop on the Virtual Blog Writing Day. On DeniseWakeman.com, I posted a list of resources and a list of blog posts participants wrote on VBWD:

Writing and Blogging Resources from Virtual Blog Writing Day

Link Love from Virtual Blog Writing Day

Managing Comments: 4 Plugins for Encouraging and Rewarding Your Readers (the post I wrote on VBWD)

A great resource from Louise Myers on protecting the images you create for your blog:

Top 10 Free Watermark Software & Sites to Watermark Online

Free gift from Nicole Dean (no optin)

Blog Post Brainstorming Sheet (never be at a loss for ideas again!)

From Rich Brooks on Social Media Examiner:

3 Ways to Create Highly Valuable Blog Content 

From Rebecca Livermore on Professional Content Creation:

5 Ways to Speed Up the Progress on Your Blog

And finally, from Copyblogger, one of my favorite blogs on content marketing:

A Comprehensive Guide to Formatting Your WordPress Posts and Pages

On another note, just in case you missed the big news, I launched a new site and project with my colleague Ellen Britt.

The site, The Future of Ink, is devoted to helping online entrepreneurs leverage digital publishing in all its forms, to boost visibility and build their businesses. We launched on September 5 and the articles are getting rave reviews. Check it out, read the articles and subscribe so you don’t miss a thing! 

Did you read or write a great post about business blogging? Share a link to the article in the comments below!

As you may know, every now and then I host Brag About Your Blog Day on my Facebook page. This month, however, I’m doing it a little differently…

I aim to create the BIGGEST list of blogs on the Web.

Get the details here and add your blog to the list…blog on!

This is a guest post from Linda Dessau of ContentMasteryGuide.com.

Have you ever returned from a conference, class, seminar or other event, all gung-ho to apply your learning, but then find yourself quickly enveloped back into your busy life, with your new goals left behind?

It’s certainly happened to me, but I didn’t want it to happen to my Barrie Business Blogathon participants or the crew from Denise’s Virtual Blog Writing Day. So I put together these simple tips that will help you build on your momentum, so that you can keep building your blog and growing your business.

1. Celebrate your successes in all forms – At the Blogathon, some people published new blog posts, while others wrote as many as three posts to publish later. At Denise’s Blog Writing Action Day, they celebrated 15 published posts! Some people got their questions answered, while others got new insights into the concept of attracting new clients with a blog. All experienced the camaraderie and driving energy of working with other people with a similar goal. Now those are some blogging successes!
2. Summarize your learning – Whether you send a formal feedback form to the event organizer or just jot down some notes for yourself, take some time to highlight the key things you learned and the actions you will take going forward. 
3. Integrate your new practices – Did the event inspire you to blog differently or more often? For new habits to take hold, it helps to piggyback on the existing systems that are working for you. Put on your lab coat and be willing to experiment. If something doesn’t work for you, tweak it until it does – instead of abandoning it altogether.
4. Enlist ongoing support - I have always found it helpful to surround myself with people who see the positive qualities in me that I don’t always see. Think about who could help build your confidence as a blogger and a business owner, and keep their phone numbers and email addresses handy. Even better, schedule regular times to connect. 
5. Restart your momentum at regular intervals – All of the above strategies will help, but it’s also important to re-energize your efforts. Sign up for another event, re-connect with your peers from the last event, re-read your notes or find other ways to light that spark.

What do you find helpful for keeping up your momentum?

Linda Dessau, CPCC, is the author of Write Your Way to More Clients Online and the founder of ContentMasteryGuide.com and  GetWellnessBlogs.com. She offers virtual and in-person Blogathon events and full-service blogging and social media packages.

You’ve probably heard a thousand times that your blog is the foundation of your online presence (heck, I’ve said it at least ten thousand times!).

Another way to think about it is that your blog is the heart of your business…

…the place where you deeply connect, share your message, engage your audience and have the opportunity to transform the lives of your ideal clients.

Well, if your blog is the heart, then your list is the life blood of your business, pumping your message consistently into the hands, head and heart of the audience you wish to serve. Without a list that is consistently growing, your business could be on life-support soon.

While attracting your ideal reader to visit your blog is one thing, getting them to come back over and over again, is quite another challenge. The #1 way to make that happen is to convert your reader to become a subscriber and therein lies the real challenge…building your list with your blog. 

That’s why I’m presenting a one-time, live 90-minute training webinar called “Harness the Power of Your Blog: How to Generate More Leads and Build Your List with Your Blog.”

Date: Thursday, October 25
Time: 10:00 am Pacific Time / 1:00 pm ET
Investment: $47
Registration Details Here

You’ll learn: 

• Email vs. RSS: What works best and why you may need both
• 7 places to add your email optin form to boost subscribers
• The little known tactic that will help you quickly and deeply connect with new subscribers
• 3 ways to convert blog visitors to subscribers
• How to nurture your subscribers to keep them coming back to your blog

Plus much more!

This is NOT a preview webinar with a pitch for a big ticket product at the end. This is a training webinar. I’m frequently asked to share this information so I’m doing it one time, next week. This is info I share privately with VIP clients and I want you to benefit too, so you can build your online business.

The webinar will be recorded so you will get the video and audio replay plus a transcript and a pdf of the slides.

Whether you’re a seasoned blogger or just getting started, this webinar will give you action steps for optimizing your blog so you can build your list and build your business as a result!

Register here.

Related Articles:

The Top Two Reasons You’re Not Getting More Blog Subscribers

Promote Your Blog – 30 Ways to Get More Visibility [Infographic]