Every business depends on networking between employees and other stakeholders in the company to accomplish the goals of management. To be effective in a small business, you have to take a look at the way a corporation builds its network of clients and recruits their employees. Effective networking practices assure the highest profitability for a business. This is why human resources is such a high priority in the corporate world. A corporation draws its strength from its client base and the reputation it builds by recruiting the best and brightest employees.
If you are a small business owner, you have probably thought of expanding your business. The way to increase sales is done through either leveraging capital or human resources. To leverage capital, you would borrow money and invest it in your means of production. This might be better equipment, more employees or anything that would increase your productivity.
Most small businesses choose to leverage human resources. A good example of this is an affiliate program. The idea behind running an affiliate program is to offer other companies or individuals a monetary incentive for acting as agents to sell your products to the public.
Imagine having a small army of affiliates selling your products. The best part is that you only pay them a commission after they sell your product. You have no paid salespeople at all. Basically, you just receive the orders, process the payments and ship the goods to the customer.
This is a good example of effective networking because you have a built-in loyal workforce once you have hired your affiliates. The benefits to the merchant are increased sales, market share and product visibility.
Another popular form of networking is direct sponsorship in a Multi-Level Marketing organization. In this type of marketing plan, an individual sponsors many other people into an organization. Then he trains this group of people on how to sponsor more people into the organization themselves. This method results in a very large base of marketers working to sell products for the company. The original sponsor gets paid for his efforts by the volume of sales his team produces. The profit trickles down through the organization based on the number of people each group leader has sponsored and the sales volume achieved by each member of the group for the sales period.
Affiliate programs and MLM are not for every company. There are costs of maintenance, and a payroll to meet every month. The biggest advantage of using these programs is that a non-employee of the company makes every sale. This way the company does not have to pay the worker's benefits and Social Security taxes. Each affiliate or network marketer is an independent taxable entity. They are not employees of the company from a legal standpoint.
Business owners must decide for themselves the best way to expand their business when it comes time to do so. It all comes down to a cost per sale analysis. Finding the best way to capitalize your business always includes market research and weighing the benefits of your available options.
If you decide to use one of the methods outlined above, it is best to discuss this move with a qualified marketing specialist. Also hire a qualified accountant for taxes and payroll purposes. You may want to talk to other business people who have successfully made this change for more information.
(C) Writing Career
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Media Training 301 -- Become a Partner, Not a Player
Every business owner should include getting publicity as a part of his or her overall marketing strategy. However, there is a lot more to garnering free publicity for your business than just writing – and sending – press releases.
You want to build a long-term relationship with the media, and become known as a resource, an expert in your industry. That doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't happen by accident. It takes time, careful planning and a strategy. The good news is that you don't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars, or hire an outside agency to do it for you.
Before you can start creating a buzz and building a successful publicity campaign, you need to know three things:
1. Why do you want publicity in the first place? Are you trying to build credibility? Let people know about your product or services? Create or strengthen your business's brand?
2. What is your message? When putting together your publicity campaign, you need to know what you're going to say and how to say it so that you achieve your ultimate goals.
3. What type of coverage are you looking for? (There are three types: Newspaper/visual, radio/audio, and Television/visual/audio). Of these three types, which is going to be the best way to get your message out?
Once you know where you want to end up, the next step is to create a roadmap that will get you there.
There's a famous saying that illustrates perfectly what you ultimately want to achieve: "If the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying 'Circus Coming to the Fairground Saturday,' that's advertising. If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and walk him into town, that's promotion. If the elephant walks through the mayor's flowerbed, that's publicity. If you can get the mayor to laugh about it, that's public relations. And if you planned the elephant's walk, that's marketing."
Here are the "insider secrets" that will help you to become a partner, and build a solid relationship with the media so that you can "plan the elephant's walk" for your business.
1. Do your research before writing your first press release. Think about your story. Who is it going to affect, interest or impact? Is it strictly of local interest, or can you “hook" it to a larger event or happening? Is it a one-time happening, such as your grand opening, or a special event, or milestone? Is it part of an ongoing effort?
2. Create your own "hot list." Now, figure out which media sources are going to be most interested in your story. Start locally. Think of your local newspapers, television and radio stations. Include your local public radio station, college stations and any others that provide news stories in your list. (Special Note: If your story isn't one that is going to be over in fifteen minutes, don't forget organizations that publish newsletters! Think about your local Chamber of Commerce or organizations whose members or clients could also become your customers!)
Then think even further outside your "circles of influence." If you live in an urban area, there may be national affiliates like APR, etc that have stringers or offices nearby. Include those in your list.
Now look at online sources. Be thoughtful here. Don't just send a press release to everyone. Sure, it may get published online, but it may also get dumped into a “news bin" on a thread where it is never seen or read.
In addition to the hundreds of news sources, think about your affiliations. Are you a member of a national society, or organization? If it is relevant to your story, mention that you're a member, and then send a copy of the press release to them as well!
3. Make it personal. Now that you know which media sources you're going to send your press release to, get on the phone. Find out the name of the specific person you need to send the press release to. (These is a step a lot of people skip over, but take my advice and don't, because it's one of the most important!) Remember the word "relations" in "public relations." Building any worthwhile relationship takes time and effort. You have to give something to get something.
If possible, talk to the reporter or editor personally. Introduce yourself, and let her/him know that you're going to be sending him/her a press release. (If you're inexperienced at this, you can actually use that as an introduction and let him know that you want to get started off on the right foot). You want to find out the following information:
- The correct spelling of her/his name.
- How they prefer to receive the press release -- faxed or in the mail.
- How far in advance do they prefer that you send the press release?
Always make sure to ask what their deadline is. If faxing your press release is okay, get the fax number, and find out if the cover sheet should be addressed to the reporter or someone else.
DO NOT CHAT. This is not a social call. You are calling to get information, not a date. (Tricks of the trade: Get your Rolodex or PDA out while your talking to the reporter. Note all of the pertinent information so that you've got it for the next time. On the back of the card, or in the memo section, write down the date you spoke with them, and the reason for the press release.)
4. Once you've found your contact person, stick to them! Unless otherwise instructed, never send the same press release to more than one person in any organization or publication. If there is any confusion or duplicate coverage, it will be blamed on you, and you will lose your credibility.
5. Follow-up. Within a day or two of sending your press release, call and make sure that they received it. If not, be calm, and pleasant, and just say that you'll send another one. Re-check your contact information, and make sure you've got the right address, fax number, etc. And then send it right away.
6. Never just send a press release the day of your event. It makes you look unprofessional, and you probably won't get covered. The only exception to this is if you're holding a press conference to make a big announcement that will impact many people.
Always plan ahead and give the media as much time as possible to decide how they are going to cover it.
7. Know Their Deadlines. I can't stress this often enough. EVERY TIME you talk to a reporter, ask what their deadline is.
When you're submitting an article or a press release to a magazine, call first and ask about submission deadlines. And then make sure that you send it in with time to spare.
Mark the deadline on your media info sheet, or your Rolodex, but check back with them periodically, because changes do happen.
8. Keep your promises. If a reporter calls you, and you don't know the answer to a question, or he needs something you don't have but you promise to get it -- do it. Always follow through and do what you say you're going to by their deadline.
9. Be professional. Offer to act as a liaison if the reporter needs to speak to other people in your organization or industry, and volunteer to provide additional research or background information. Put together an online pressroom on your Website, as well as offline media kits that you can send along with your press releases, or when needed.
10. Remember what your mother taught you. Be polite. Say please and thank you. If you read an article that a reporter has written and you liked it, send a handwritten a note and let them know. Be willing to provide information, resources or background material even if it doesn't directly benefit you. Building a solid relationship is about more than selling more widgets, and will pay off in the long run.
(C) Writing Career
You want to build a long-term relationship with the media, and become known as a resource, an expert in your industry. That doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't happen by accident. It takes time, careful planning and a strategy. The good news is that you don't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars, or hire an outside agency to do it for you.
Before you can start creating a buzz and building a successful publicity campaign, you need to know three things:
1. Why do you want publicity in the first place? Are you trying to build credibility? Let people know about your product or services? Create or strengthen your business's brand?
2. What is your message? When putting together your publicity campaign, you need to know what you're going to say and how to say it so that you achieve your ultimate goals.
3. What type of coverage are you looking for? (There are three types: Newspaper/visual, radio/audio, and Television/visual/audio). Of these three types, which is going to be the best way to get your message out?
Once you know where you want to end up, the next step is to create a roadmap that will get you there.
There's a famous saying that illustrates perfectly what you ultimately want to achieve: "If the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying 'Circus Coming to the Fairground Saturday,' that's advertising. If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and walk him into town, that's promotion. If the elephant walks through the mayor's flowerbed, that's publicity. If you can get the mayor to laugh about it, that's public relations. And if you planned the elephant's walk, that's marketing."
Here are the "insider secrets" that will help you to become a partner, and build a solid relationship with the media so that you can "plan the elephant's walk" for your business.
1. Do your research before writing your first press release. Think about your story. Who is it going to affect, interest or impact? Is it strictly of local interest, or can you “hook" it to a larger event or happening? Is it a one-time happening, such as your grand opening, or a special event, or milestone? Is it part of an ongoing effort?
2. Create your own "hot list." Now, figure out which media sources are going to be most interested in your story. Start locally. Think of your local newspapers, television and radio stations. Include your local public radio station, college stations and any others that provide news stories in your list. (Special Note: If your story isn't one that is going to be over in fifteen minutes, don't forget organizations that publish newsletters! Think about your local Chamber of Commerce or organizations whose members or clients could also become your customers!)
Then think even further outside your "circles of influence." If you live in an urban area, there may be national affiliates like APR, etc that have stringers or offices nearby. Include those in your list.
Now look at online sources. Be thoughtful here. Don't just send a press release to everyone. Sure, it may get published online, but it may also get dumped into a “news bin" on a thread where it is never seen or read.
In addition to the hundreds of news sources, think about your affiliations. Are you a member of a national society, or organization? If it is relevant to your story, mention that you're a member, and then send a copy of the press release to them as well!
3. Make it personal. Now that you know which media sources you're going to send your press release to, get on the phone. Find out the name of the specific person you need to send the press release to. (These is a step a lot of people skip over, but take my advice and don't, because it's one of the most important!) Remember the word "relations" in "public relations." Building any worthwhile relationship takes time and effort. You have to give something to get something.
If possible, talk to the reporter or editor personally. Introduce yourself, and let her/him know that you're going to be sending him/her a press release. (If you're inexperienced at this, you can actually use that as an introduction and let him know that you want to get started off on the right foot). You want to find out the following information:
- The correct spelling of her/his name.
- How they prefer to receive the press release -- faxed or in the mail.
- How far in advance do they prefer that you send the press release?
Always make sure to ask what their deadline is. If faxing your press release is okay, get the fax number, and find out if the cover sheet should be addressed to the reporter or someone else.
DO NOT CHAT. This is not a social call. You are calling to get information, not a date. (Tricks of the trade: Get your Rolodex or PDA out while your talking to the reporter. Note all of the pertinent information so that you've got it for the next time. On the back of the card, or in the memo section, write down the date you spoke with them, and the reason for the press release.)
4. Once you've found your contact person, stick to them! Unless otherwise instructed, never send the same press release to more than one person in any organization or publication. If there is any confusion or duplicate coverage, it will be blamed on you, and you will lose your credibility.
5. Follow-up. Within a day or two of sending your press release, call and make sure that they received it. If not, be calm, and pleasant, and just say that you'll send another one. Re-check your contact information, and make sure you've got the right address, fax number, etc. And then send it right away.
6. Never just send a press release the day of your event. It makes you look unprofessional, and you probably won't get covered. The only exception to this is if you're holding a press conference to make a big announcement that will impact many people.
Always plan ahead and give the media as much time as possible to decide how they are going to cover it.
7. Know Their Deadlines. I can't stress this often enough. EVERY TIME you talk to a reporter, ask what their deadline is.
When you're submitting an article or a press release to a magazine, call first and ask about submission deadlines. And then make sure that you send it in with time to spare.
Mark the deadline on your media info sheet, or your Rolodex, but check back with them periodically, because changes do happen.
8. Keep your promises. If a reporter calls you, and you don't know the answer to a question, or he needs something you don't have but you promise to get it -- do it. Always follow through and do what you say you're going to by their deadline.
9. Be professional. Offer to act as a liaison if the reporter needs to speak to other people in your organization or industry, and volunteer to provide additional research or background information. Put together an online pressroom on your Website, as well as offline media kits that you can send along with your press releases, or when needed.
10. Remember what your mother taught you. Be polite. Say please and thank you. If you read an article that a reporter has written and you liked it, send a handwritten a note and let them know. Be willing to provide information, resources or background material even if it doesn't directly benefit you. Building a solid relationship is about more than selling more widgets, and will pay off in the long run.
(C) Writing Career
Thursday, September 11, 2008
How to Create Fresh Content for Your Blog
When you first start your blog, you have so much to say that you have no problem posting every day. After a while, you begin to run out of ideas and you can't seem to come up with fresh content. Every blogger has this problem from time to time. So how do you keep the blog going - keep it fresh and full of value? Here are some ideas:Do a top 10 list - "The top 10 mistakes people do when trying _______ for the first time." "The top 10 tips for ______." Lists tend to be easier to write and take less time to formulate. If you can't come up with 10, perhaps you can make it the top 3 or top 5.
Interview an expert - Approach someone who is very knowledgeable in your blog niche and you may find they'll be happy to do an interview, especially if they have a new product just launched and would like the exposure. Put together some thoughtful questions and ask them to write out their answers. The beauty of this blog post is that aside from asking the questions, the interviewee does all the work!
Answer a recurring question/problem - Go to the forums you frequent in your niche and look for a recurring question that people have. Doing a little research and coming up with answers makes for an excellent blog post. You also can become the expert.
Blog about other blog posts - Have you read a blog post recently that caused you to stop and think, or offered up a huge glittering gem of priceless information? Blog your opinions, insights, and inspiration you've gotten from that person's post. Be sure to provide a link back so your readers can read the original post.
Use the weather - Look around you at the season and tie it into your niche. Does the hot weather inspire you to share a story on your internet marketing blog about going fishing while your internet marketing business is still making you money? Does the 4 feet of snow outside make you think about reading your favorite books? If so, you can do a niche-related book review with your Amazon or other affiliate links attached.
What's up in your business world - Blog about what you're working on now. Using a personal tone, explain what your current project is. Letting a few tidbits escape builds anticipation and helps your readers feel like they're now on the "inside".
These are just a few blogging ideas to help get you back on track providing real thoughtful and informative value to your readers.
(C) Writing Career
Sunday, September 7, 2008
New Book Introduces Musicians to the Music Press
Available for download now, "Guide to the Music Press 2008" features 213-pages of the most detailed entries every published on music journalists and photographers.The music press has shared this information at MusicPressReport.com for years, but only among registered members. Now the time has come to make it public. Why? Publicists, labels and musicians spend way too much time and money bombarding every journalist they can find with un-targeted pleas for coverage that are widely ignored. The constant spamming enrages journalists and does nothing for the musicians.
Simply put, typical music industry directories and contact lists don't work. Making personal connections is always the best way to market music. Now there's a tool to help make that connection.
For more information, visit MusicPressReport.com or download the book directly at: http://www.lulu.com/content/3052680
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Why are referrals so effective?
Anyone who is in business wants to get connected to others who can help them to get more business. It's what networking is all about. In fact, working' to get connected is the most effective way to build your business --- through referrals.
Why are referrals so effective? Because people tend to take action on personal referrals over any other type of advertising. If you’re in need of a marketing firm, and a friend of yours recommends one to you, you’re more likely to act on that referral, right?
The key to true business networking is the formation of a mutually beneficial relationship – a stark difference from the standard shake-hands and exchange your business card event. The best way for an entrepreneur to get clients is by referral. But the process of building enough word of mouth to produce the number of clients you need can seem daunting, to say the least.
According to experts, business networking functions best when individuals offer to help others to find connections, rather than "cold-calling" on prospects them. Business networking can take place outside of traditional business environments and at public places such as airports, restaurants, golf courses, and movie line-ups.
If you want to gain the most out of business networking, follow Mark McGregor's Ten Commandments of Networking:
1) Lose the "what is in it for me?" attitude.
2) Listen to what the other person is saying - hear it, and be moved by it.
3) Strive to build a relationship with those you meet.
4) Make an effort to give the first referral.
5) Do not tell others of the referral you require. Instead, "show them" with a story.
6) Be specific in the type of referrals you’re interested in.
7) Reciprocate when appropriate.
8) Participate in the network executive, functions, and network time.
9) Thank the person who gave you a referral.
10) Follow up on the referral within 24 hours.
Why are referrals so effective? Because people tend to take action on personal referrals over any other type of advertising. If you’re in need of a marketing firm, and a friend of yours recommends one to you, you’re more likely to act on that referral, right?
The key to true business networking is the formation of a mutually beneficial relationship – a stark difference from the standard shake-hands and exchange your business card event. The best way for an entrepreneur to get clients is by referral. But the process of building enough word of mouth to produce the number of clients you need can seem daunting, to say the least.
According to experts, business networking functions best when individuals offer to help others to find connections, rather than "cold-calling" on prospects them. Business networking can take place outside of traditional business environments and at public places such as airports, restaurants, golf courses, and movie line-ups.
If you want to gain the most out of business networking, follow Mark McGregor's Ten Commandments of Networking:
1) Lose the "what is in it for me?" attitude.
2) Listen to what the other person is saying - hear it, and be moved by it.
3) Strive to build a relationship with those you meet.
4) Make an effort to give the first referral.
5) Do not tell others of the referral you require. Instead, "show them" with a story.
6) Be specific in the type of referrals you’re interested in.
7) Reciprocate when appropriate.
8) Participate in the network executive, functions, and network time.
9) Thank the person who gave you a referral.
10) Follow up on the referral within 24 hours.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Suffering from Information Overload?
The age that we live in is called the information age. And it's said that the Internet is the information superhighway.
If you're an e-business owner, it's possible that you've been run over on the information superhighway. Unfortunately, the traffic is so heavy that it's difficult to get up! The information just keeps coming and coming and coming.
What can be done about all of the information coming at us all at once? What strategies can be used to manage the flow of information so that you only have to deal with the important stuff?
First, let's look at what information you've got coming at you:
If you're online all day long, there's a good chance that a lot of it is from browsing around the Internet, looking for information that you can use to build your business. Perhaps you get emails from people (as well as spam)...including vendors, customers, and partners. You probably get reports from your advertising efforts, like Google Adwords, and there may be times (like when you own several websites) that you have to manage such information as domain registrars.
The first thing you want to do is deal with the flow coming in:
Before reading any information, give it a quick glance and decide if it is critical to your business efforts or not and if it is, save it. If it isn't, delete it.
- Resist the urge to review everything with a fine-tooth comb and resist the urge to respond to emails as soon as they come in.
- Decide whether you need to spend two hours gathering marketing information or only one hour.
- Prioritize information coming in so that you only deal with the most important information and can simply glance at and correctly file the less important information.
Review and prioritize to first reduce the flow.
The second thing you want to do is manage the flow that you're allowing through:
To do this, you'll want to create systems and use databases so you can keep track of everything. Not everything needs all of your attention right away. You can use information managers and task managers to help you manage the flow of information coming in to you.
What's the end result? You'll have less information to deal with...so you'll have more time to spend on critical business activities like marketing...so you'll generate more customers...so you'll generate more sales...so you'll generate more profit!
(C) Writing Career
If you're an e-business owner, it's possible that you've been run over on the information superhighway. Unfortunately, the traffic is so heavy that it's difficult to get up! The information just keeps coming and coming and coming.
What can be done about all of the information coming at us all at once? What strategies can be used to manage the flow of information so that you only have to deal with the important stuff?
First, let's look at what information you've got coming at you:
If you're online all day long, there's a good chance that a lot of it is from browsing around the Internet, looking for information that you can use to build your business. Perhaps you get emails from people (as well as spam)...including vendors, customers, and partners. You probably get reports from your advertising efforts, like Google Adwords, and there may be times (like when you own several websites) that you have to manage such information as domain registrars.
The first thing you want to do is deal with the flow coming in:
Before reading any information, give it a quick glance and decide if it is critical to your business efforts or not and if it is, save it. If it isn't, delete it.
- Resist the urge to review everything with a fine-tooth comb and resist the urge to respond to emails as soon as they come in.
- Decide whether you need to spend two hours gathering marketing information or only one hour.
- Prioritize information coming in so that you only deal with the most important information and can simply glance at and correctly file the less important information.
Review and prioritize to first reduce the flow.
The second thing you want to do is manage the flow that you're allowing through:
To do this, you'll want to create systems and use databases so you can keep track of everything. Not everything needs all of your attention right away. You can use information managers and task managers to help you manage the flow of information coming in to you.
What's the end result? You'll have less information to deal with...so you'll have more time to spend on critical business activities like marketing...so you'll generate more customers...so you'll generate more sales...so you'll generate more profit!
(C) Writing Career
How to Blog Like a Pro and Profit Like a Guru
How many times have you heard the words blog or web log or how about online diary? If you have been active online for the past few years, you’ve probably heard it thousands of times.
What you might not realize is that blogging is not only one of the fastest and easiest ways to get indexed in search engines but it is also a huge source of income that is just waiting for you to grab your share.
Blogging has actually been around for quite a while but only up until the past few years have online as well as offline marketers, become aware of how powerful this medium is.
You can find plenty of free to very inexpensive places to start a blog. A few of the top rated blog hosting services are Blogger, which is owned by Google, Wordpress and Moveable Type. If you already have a web hosting account somewhere, that runs cPanel & Fantastic, then you're in luck, because Wordpress blog software is just a couple of mouse clicks away from installing on one of your domains.
The easiest to get started and set up would have to be Blogger.com, since they are not only free, but they have a very simple step by step process for creating your blog. The only downside to Blogger is that the features that they offer are very limited. The upside to Blogger is that it's owned by Google, which is not a bad thing at all, if you know what I mean.
The most common ways that most Internet marketers are making a profit from blogs is by integrating Google Adsense into their blog. This is very simple to do and Blogger makes it even easier for you. You can also insert many other contextual advertisements into the blog such as Yahoo, Kanoodle, Chitika and many others as well as any other affiliate links you may have.
The other benefit to blogging is also the ability to add back links to your blog that point to your other websites. This is very important since the more back links that you have coming inbound to your websites, the better you will rank for the keywords you are promoting. You will also have to setup the proper keyword anchor links in your blog and on the pages of your websites that the links are pointing to.
Let's look at a summary of what needs to be done in order to take advantage of blogging.
First, you need to setup a blog either at Blogger or one of the other online services mentioned earlier or create a blog on your own domain name & web hosting account.
Once you have your blog setup, it's time to start monetizing it by adding in contextual advertising such as Google Adsense and or affiliate links. Now add in some targeted keyword anchor links that point back to your other websites.
All you have to do now is post to your blog a couple times per week and make sure that you are pinging after you make your new post. Sending out a ping is a way to let the search engines know that you have new content on your blog. The search engines will come to crawl your blog and start indexing your new content and follow all those targeted links that point back to your other websites. Are you starting to see how powerful this is?
Now just keep posting to your blogs and if you keep up with it and continue to add new content on a regular basis, you'll start reaping the rewards of blogging.
(C) Writing Career
What you might not realize is that blogging is not only one of the fastest and easiest ways to get indexed in search engines but it is also a huge source of income that is just waiting for you to grab your share.
Blogging has actually been around for quite a while but only up until the past few years have online as well as offline marketers, become aware of how powerful this medium is.
You can find plenty of free to very inexpensive places to start a blog. A few of the top rated blog hosting services are Blogger, which is owned by Google, Wordpress and Moveable Type. If you already have a web hosting account somewhere, that runs cPanel & Fantastic, then you're in luck, because Wordpress blog software is just a couple of mouse clicks away from installing on one of your domains.
The easiest to get started and set up would have to be Blogger.com, since they are not only free, but they have a very simple step by step process for creating your blog. The only downside to Blogger is that the features that they offer are very limited. The upside to Blogger is that it's owned by Google, which is not a bad thing at all, if you know what I mean.
The most common ways that most Internet marketers are making a profit from blogs is by integrating Google Adsense into their blog. This is very simple to do and Blogger makes it even easier for you. You can also insert many other contextual advertisements into the blog such as Yahoo, Kanoodle, Chitika and many others as well as any other affiliate links you may have.
The other benefit to blogging is also the ability to add back links to your blog that point to your other websites. This is very important since the more back links that you have coming inbound to your websites, the better you will rank for the keywords you are promoting. You will also have to setup the proper keyword anchor links in your blog and on the pages of your websites that the links are pointing to.
Let's look at a summary of what needs to be done in order to take advantage of blogging.
First, you need to setup a blog either at Blogger or one of the other online services mentioned earlier or create a blog on your own domain name & web hosting account.
Once you have your blog setup, it's time to start monetizing it by adding in contextual advertising such as Google Adsense and or affiliate links. Now add in some targeted keyword anchor links that point back to your other websites.
All you have to do now is post to your blog a couple times per week and make sure that you are pinging after you make your new post. Sending out a ping is a way to let the search engines know that you have new content on your blog. The search engines will come to crawl your blog and start indexing your new content and follow all those targeted links that point back to your other websites. Are you starting to see how powerful this is?
Now just keep posting to your blogs and if you keep up with it and continue to add new content on a regular basis, you'll start reaping the rewards of blogging.
(C) Writing Career
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