Blog your way to more business - part two (Marco Spoerrle, marcospoerrle.com)

Blog your way to more business - part two
by Carla Chadwick, Web content specialist

In part one, I covered basic content issues and how to use free photography to increase your blog’s post appeal. In this issue, I have a few more content tips for you, but I mainly want to focus on some effective free methods you can use to market your blog.
Content tips
If you’re feeling stuck for a something to write about, sometimes getting a little inspiration elsewhere can help. The following ideas and linked resources might just give you the kick-start you need to write memorable posts:

• Try using a quotation from a famous person to get your creative juices flowing.
• Use clip art, either alone or in conjunction with a quotation, to provide some visual interest.
• Include a free cartoon in your post to inject some humor.
• Use the Cool Text Generator to create fun graphic headlines for your posts.

You can incorporate any elements you want as long as they relate to your subject. Remember, if you stray from your subject, your readers will stray from you.
Free blog marketing resources
Once you’ve become inspired and written those wonderful posts, you’ll want as many people as possible to see them. There are myriad ways to market a blog, some of which require special expertise. If you’re a new blogger, though, you might want to begin with the following relatively simple methods:
Print materials, advertising and XSellerate
It might seem obvious that you should put your blog address on all your communications, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded. Opportunities to promote your blog on vehicles you’re already using abound. These include:

• Letterhead
• Business cards
• Listing fliers
• E-mail signature
• XSellerate messages
• Web site home page
• Advertising

Class reunion Web sites
Class reunion sites, such as Classmates.com, Reunion.com or ClassReport.org, get a tremendous amount of traffic. You never know; there might be people from your past looking for you on these sites. It takes just a few minutes to register for each. When you do, make sure your Web site and blog are listed in your profiles.
Commenting on other blogs
You can gain exposure by writing entries in the comments fields of posts on popular blogs and Web sites. Well written, on-topic comments in the right places can generate buzz about you and your business. When you make comments, remember the following guidelines:

• When you enter your name in a comment form, use a name that identifies your business. Unless your name is well known, using “Jones Mortgage” would have more benefit to you than using “Jane Jones.” That way, when people read your comment, they’ll see your business name right next to it.
• Keep your comment focused on the topic in the story or post.
• If you have content on your blog related to the story, provide a link to it in your comment. (The obvious exception would be on blogs or Web sites that don’t allow URLs in comments.) Be sure to explain briefly in the comment why readers would find your information beneficial. This would give them incentive to click through to your blog.
• Since you would be posting comments with the ultimate goal of marketing your business, stay away from writing anything negative. A good rule of thumb is that if you wouldn’t make a remark to someone’s face, don’t post it in a comments field.

Here are some tips for finding suitable sites for your comments:

• Look in the a la mode blog directory for blogs from companies that provide allied services in your area.
• Search in a major search engine for government Web sites or blogs in your city, county and state.
• Search in a major search engine for community-oriented or personal blogs in your town. For example, if you’re in Boca Raton, Florida, search for “Boca Raton Florida blogs.”
• Visit the Web sites and blogs of local newspapers, and television and radio stations to look for stories related to your business.

Real estate blog directories
If you’ve been blogging through a la mode, you’ll automatically be listed in their blog directory. You’ll probably also want to submit your blog for inclusion in the following free directories that rank high in Google:
Real Estate and Mortgage Blogger's Exchange (REMBEX)
To submit your blog to be considered for inclusion in REMBEX, click the link above and follow the instructions.
MortgageBlogs.com
As you can tell by the name, this directory is dedicated only to mortgage-related blogs. They offer a map-based search system so readers can easily find local blogs. Click here to submit your blog to the directory.
I hope you’ll find these methods useful. In part three of this series, I’ll delve into even more free ways to market your blog.