Browsing articles from "June, 2011"

5 Mistakes You May Be Making On Your Blog

Jun 28, 2011   //   by admin   //   Articles, Blog, Blogging  //  6 Comments

Blogging, although a pretty saturated term, is pretty much still a new frontier as a medium. Compared to its counterparts, blogging is the newest forefront that we use to share information and express ourselves. And while there are no rules for blogging per se, if you want to take your blog to the next level or become a professional blogger, there are things that you should be doing to achieve that goal.

There are power in your words and your voice as it pertains to your blog, but you could also be making major mistakes with your site—mistakes that may be costing you the opportunity to advance as not only a blogger, but a source people rely on for information.

Here are 5 mistakes you may be making on your blog:

1.Not having your own domain: We at Show Me the Blog are big on branding and setting your blog apart from the rest. Purchasing your domain is one of the most important things you can do to make a name for yourself with your blog. Years ago, domains used to cost upwards of $25-100 but now cost less than $10 with most providers. Invest in your blog by purchasing a domain and say goodbye to suchandsuch.blogspot.com, et al. It’s good for your branding, good for your blog, and will overall improve your traffic and your SEO. (Also, get on WordPress if you aren’t already! SEO loves WP blogs!)

2. Not being consistent: There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to how often you should blog, but being consistent goes a long way. Not only does consistency help maintain and acquire readers who are thirsty for your information, but it also helps your page rank. Google and other search engines show favor to sites who are updated regularly (at least once a week). Make it a habit to post on your blog weekly and watch your traffic grow.

3. Not engaging your readers: If you are not engaging your readers on social networks or in the comment section of your blog, then you are losing. Engaging your readers is a great way to thank those who read your blog and it creates a sense of community within your niche and site. If you only “broadcast” and not “engage”, then you need to shake it up a bit. Your readers will thank you and you may just make some new friends along the way.

4. Not having your contact information on your site: If you are a blogger who wants to work with brands or blog professionally, people need to be able to contact you. It shouldn’t be a chore to try to find contact information on your site. Have an ABOUT ME page on your blog with up-to-date information about you and your blog including your email address. Will you get spam? Probably. But you may also get the opportunity to work or cover some great stuff, all because you could be contacted.

5. Having all over the place content: Depending on your blog site or type, you probably fit into a niche. Having a niche is great because it gives you a subject to blog about and can make you an “expert” or “guru” in a particular area. But when you don’t have a defined niche or your content is all over the place, you could confuse your readers before they’ve had a chance to really get to know you. Sit down and think about what it is that you want to say; define your voice, then post your message. Doing so can improve the readership of your blog.

Blogging is an awesome thing—we love it! But with a few tweaks here and there, you can take your blog to never before seen heights. We hope posting these 5 mistakes you could be making on your blog help you and your quest for worldwide domination!

Written by: Danyelle Little, Founder and Organizer, Show Me the Blog Social Media and Blogging Conference; The Cubicle Chick.com

$50 Early Bird Ticket Sale Ends on 6/30. Regular Priced $75

Jun 22, 2011   //   by admin   //   Announcements, Blog, Conference, Early Bird Registration, Tickets  //  No Comments

Due to high demand, we increased the pre-sale ticket deadline to June 30th. On July 1,  regular priced tickets will be $75.00 for both days (Social Media Day Oct. 21, and Blogging Day, Oct. 22), or $50 for one day of your choice. I encourage each and every one of you who hasn’t purchased their tickets yet to do so while it is at this price. There will not be any further extensions.

We have done our best to make sure the pricing for tickets for the 2nd Annual Show Me the Blog Social Media and Blogging Conference is kept as low as possible so everyone who want to attend can join us. Even at the regular price of $75, most two day conferences of this size are substantially higher in cost.

To purchase your tickets to Show Me the Blog Social Media and Blogging Conference, click HERE.

We will be rolling out a major announcement of our guest speakers, panelists, and keynotes in July. We promise you it will be worth the price of admission—and then some!

STL WordPress Blogging Boot Camp Recap

Jun 20, 2011   //   by admin   //   Blog, Blogging, Conference, Events  //  6 Comments

On Saturday, Show Me the Blog partnered with XD Web Solutions to offer a comprehensive WordPress Blogging Boot Camp for attendees interested in learning more about WordPress and taking their blogs to the next level. The workshop covered WordPress basics, SEO, plug-ins, shortcuts, and so much more. We also covered how to create content for your blog as well as money making potential and ideas bloggers use to make an income.

The event was held at Nebula Coworking in the historic and festive S. Jefferson and Cherokee area and it was a great time to not only learn but to also network.

Below are just a few pictures from the event. For more photos, click HERE to view our Flickr page.

We plan on partnering with XD Web Solutions on more boot camps and workshops in the future so stay tuned!

And remember, pre-sale tickets are on sale currently for the Show Me the Blog Social Media and Blogging Conference for $50.00 for both days. We have extended pre-sale ticket sales, but will only be doing so until June 30th. After that, the ticket price will be raised to $75.00 for both days.

Show Me the Blog Flickr Page

3 More Days Until Our Blogging Bootcamp: Limited Spaces Available

Jun 15, 2011   //   by admin   //   Announcements, Blog, Blogging, Events, Show Me the Blog  //  No Comments

Have you wanted to start a blog and didn’t know where to start? Do you currently have a blog and you’d like to take it to another level? Or do would you like to convert your current blog to WordPress? If you’ve said yes to any of the above, then our Blogging Bootcamp happening this Saturday, June 18th from 9-3pm is something you should be attending. We will be breaking down WordPress and making it a snap for you to use, as well as give you some blogging tips, tools, and information to make your blog rock!

This workshop is great for those who have their own blog, want to start a blog, or administer a blog for their business or for their jobs. This is a valuable workshop that can increase your knowledge and give you the cache you need to administer your company blogs or other blogs for profit.

We have limited seating, and the class is filling up fast, so act now and sign up. For only $40, you get a full class of learning WordPress and how to blog, SEO, tools, tricks, and tips, and much more. Lunch will be served and each participant will receive a certificate of completion.

To sign up or to learn more about the class, click HERE.

Will we be seeing you on Saturday? :)