Common Sense Tips about Blogging...

~~~~~~~~~What is a Blog?~~~~~~~~~
I remember when I heard the term BLOG for the first time and how it was described - as an online journal or an educational tool.

I am a little BAFFLED (and I put that in CAPS on purpose) as to the use of Blogs or shall I say, the lack of understanding of what a Blog is, within the past year. Yes, I know times have changed, the internet has changed - etc etc - but really - has the intent of Blogging changed?

I start this Blog with the Wikipedia Definition of a Blog:

"A blog (a contraction of the term weblog) is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art (artlog), photographs (photoblog), sketches (sketchblog), videos (vlog), music (MP3 blog), audio (podcasting), which are part of a wider network of social media."

That is a definition I found just days before I typed up this blog. So, has the purpose of Blogs changed?

I hope not.

When I read it - I said to myself, "huh!" And I challenged myself to see if my Blogs truly fit within that criteria.

Why have I done this? - well......you see, recently and A LOT I see Blogs all over the Ning networks and they are one thing and one thing only. Advertisements. Is that a Blog? It is my opinion and I am to present to you, which is not a Blog or Blogging.

Blogging by definition is to share information. Don't get caught in the illusion that you can write an "informational ad" and post it as a Blog. If you believe that - then you believe that Infomercials are not Commercials/Advertisements.

People are not that dumb, folks. I am not reading over blogs to find the latest and greatest product. I am looking over blogs for useful topical information for enhance my life or business.

For example, recently there was a Featured Blog - the question asked a very provocative question and when I opened it - the Blog was nothing but a personal testimony of why they joined their recent company and why others should. The Blog has nothing to do with the Headline!

Huh? Anyone else confused as I am?

I didn’t even bother to read to the end of that “Blog”. If you are going to share your personal testimony on a Blog - at least be honest with the Headline!

Did I miss something here? If a Blog author is asking a question for input - should the Blog authors only reply to be "join me I make lots of money!" Something seems a bit off to me with that approach. Why would I want to post my answer if that truly was not the Blog content or intent?

And here is the funny thing. That was a Featured Blog and not ONE reply to that blog within 24 hours. Not one. Blogger-Advertisers take note!

So, it takes me back to WHAT is a Blog?

Is your Blog offering some information that you think is valuable?
If it is so valuable to business, would you post it without your banner or links?

Makes you stop and think, huh? Makes me think!

Can your blog stand on its own without mentioning your business or what you do for a living?

I challenge you with this thought as I challenge myself, too:

Let's say you are in the Advertising business - and your expertise is Sports. You write a blog about how to get Free Tickets to the local venues by being a Volunteer.

Now, let's say "me" reads that article and I am interested in becoming a Volunteer. Who do you think I am going to contact? You, the Blog author of course!

So, really - it is REALLY necessary to post a bunch of advertising mumbo-jumbo to get people to click on your link to validate your Blog?

If the content of your Blog cannot stand on its own without your links and banners - then write a different Blog that will.

Still feel the need to put your link on the page? Okay - put it below your name and that's IT.

You will attract more clients by being *less* obvious than obvious with your Blogs. And most importantly, you will gain the trust of those who look to you for information and direction.

Don't think it works? My most popular blogs (90+ replies) do not mention my business and I have gained a multitude of contacts and prospects from each one. Many other Bloggers will tell you the same facts.

Be real - don't BE your business. I will say it again, Be Real. Share your expertise and experiences in a Blog - don't turn it into a quasi-Advertisement hiding behind “just sharing information” format. People see right through that.

Don’t turn your Blog into an Internet Infomercial or shall I say, “Blogomercial”…..now, don’t take me wrong – I think infomercials are some of the most brilliant forms of advertisements I have ever seen. But they are not Blogs…….so Blogs should not be Advertisements, right?

If you feel you MUST Advertise on a Blog forum - at least be truthful about it in your Blog. Don't create headllines or "catch phrases" to entice people to open your Blogomerical. Trust me, you will loose more than you will ever gain by that approach.

Want to see successful Blogs?
1. Look at the most popular Blog authors of this forum.

2. Which ones get the most replies? Take a closer look at the replies - are they content and intelligent? Do you enjoy reading them? Do you take away at least one idea or thought that helps you in your personal or business life?

3. Next, go ahead - ask the Author - "has your blog helped your business?" My bet is those who author great content Blogs will say their Blogs have helped their business.

4. Follow the Lead of those who are proven Blog Authors and Leaders - they obviously know what they are doing, right? I know I have learned so much from so many….on this forum and I enjoy learning from others, by reading their insightful Blogs

How about less “Blogomercials” and more content?

I truly look forward to reading about your expertise and experiences on your next Blog! We have so much to share with each other...........Blog-away, my Star.tup.biz friends!

***Here are some of my favorite Blogs:

http://sta.rtup.biz/profiles/blogs/etiquette-and-ethics-how-do

http://sta.rtup.biz/profiles/blogs/incorporate-or-not-5-reasons

http://sta.rtup.biz/profiles/blogs/top-5-twitter-tools-to-help

_____________________________

PLEASE NOTE: ----> I welcome your input on my blog. The comments on this blog are being moderated in order to eliminate those individuals/businesses who continually use other people's blogs for the sole purpose to advertise their own businesses and not to add content to the conversation. All comments are subjected to approval, by myself not by the Admin's of this forum.

Thank you in advance for your professional and non-advertising replies/posts to this blog. Any and all posts that are advertising or slanderous in nature will not be approved.

© 2009 C. Ragsdale www.MaxBizMom.com -Repost/copy with prior written consent

Please feel free to view my Profile Page and if you feel I can be of any assistance to you, just let me know.

All the Best,

Charlene L. Ragsdale - Las Vegas, NV - “Proper Business with a Purpose”
Recent Winner of the Star.tup.biz $1000 Giveaway

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Comment by M. Rita Metts on July 28, 2009 at 6:48am: I am a new blogger, but I agree with a lot of the comments.

Comment by JenniferLynn Productions on July 1, 2009 at 9:20am: I have several blogs. The one I have feeding to my profile here is my business/promotional blog. I do not use it to advertise, per se, but it IS where I post updates about my business, progress with my various projects, photos, events announcements, etc. At the same time, I also profile other business people, and from time to time I write articles on my process or just on my reflections on being an artist.

For now, it serves as my web presence--all of my shops are linked from it in the sidebar. This is because my actual web site is under construction.

Does that make my blog like an advertisement/infomercial? I'm not sure. I try not to make it that way, but I am also very direct in the description that it IS my business blog, and that is what the content covers. I hope I mix it up enough for folks to want to keep coming back.

Jennifer Moore
JenniferLynn Productions, LLC

Comment by Lisa Stadtmueller on June 19, 2009 at 11:21pm: Share your expertise and experiences in a Blog - don't turn it into a quasi-Advertisement hiding behind “just sharing information” format. People see right through that.
That is SO TRUE! I instantly get turned off and click away once I feel that I'm getting a sales pitch. It's a fine line in blogging. You make great points here!
Regards
Lisa
Handbags4Hunger

Comment by Dr. Erica Goodstone on June 17, 2009 at 11:41pm: Charlene, This is a very thought provoking and clarifying blog. I remember when I was first told by a client that I "should be blogging," I had no idea why or how to go about it. Then I wrote blogs on two different sites for a few weeks - and received zero responses - because i didn't tell anybody about it so nobody showed up. Since then, i have written articles at ezinearticles.com, where the rules are very strict about not self-promoting and writing quality content articles. I don't mind the writer sharing something about their business if the blog is mostly providing some useful information, something I can use right away to improve something in my life.

Comment by Veejay on June 17, 2009 at 3:42am: I am learning how to blog and want to help others learn as I go. However I am stuck at the FTP stage. I suppose people could learn from my mistakes and problems though.
Blogging, as I see it, is a form of communication - like a letter.
It must interest the reader and be a pleasure to read - like a book. Inevitably 'recommendations' are bound to arise within those communications - networking.
I see nothing wrong with that, what I don't like, is 'in your face' blatant advertising that goes on and on about me, me, me, and what me is doing, and how me got to be so wonderful and wealthy! Then me wants to charge you a fortune just for showing you what me did to get where he is today - usually boring and not altogether true,

Comment by Angel1 on June 17, 2009 at 1:06am: Very sound advice. As a writer, my blogs are often my poetry or a short story to share. I let my talent speak for itself. I promote my work, but not in blogs. That is not the purpose of a blog. If they like what they read, they can visit my page for my links.
Also, Congradulations. How are you going to use your prize money? Angel1

Comment by Maj Gen Inderjit Kashyap on June 16, 2009 at 12:12pm: 1. The comments make an interesting reading, the spectrum ranges from intelectual discussions to business developement.
2. I have limited myself to engaging in healthy discussions & have avoided blogs which carry a bias for a single minded agenda, basically criticise for criticising sake, though at times have defended my convictions of life's principles. Rancour or rude language has been intentionally avoided even when some comments were provocative, mature people do not need crutches of these kind to convince others.
2. Blogging is a nice way to enlarge ones horizon of knowledge, others views will help in this, hence is a very healthy format to grow.

Comment by Jimi San on June 16, 2009 at 7:57am: What a great topic you got here. The make money online wave or work at home wave has risen exponentially lately. It kicked start so many people into blogging with the primary intention to sell their products not sharing their expertise and experiences. Everybody's interested to sell, sell, sell........Only the GURUS are making money......AFTER ALL.

Comment by Robert Sloan on June 15, 2009 at 9:11pm: Hear, hear! I sometimes wonder if my blog is professional enough -- it started out mostly as a daily diary sort of blog and still rambles all over all my rants and so on. But I started making entries shorter, doing a new entry if I pick up another meaty topic and doing daily art. So it's an artblog and a ramble blog. I have a lot of readers.

I've never really done a blogomercial.

What's telling is that I don't read them or comment on them either. I do read the ones that have interesting rants or ask interesting questions -- like this one. I've blogged since 2000 when I joined LiveJournal, a blogging community. That one's still active and the most open on topics, though I also have another artblog on DeviantART and do bloglets on my Oil Pastels site.

That last is mostly on the topic of what's coming up on the site. People who get to that blog have already read articles and step by step demonstrations and are presumably actually interested in oil pastels and when I'll do more articles -- which is mostly what it is, an anecdotal sideline to a listing of latest articles. I keep those shorter and stick to the Oil Pastels topic.

I have no idea what the other oil pastelists get into or not and will not presume they share my politics, religion, fondness for cats or anything else. They like to draw and paint in oil pastels. We can connect on that.

So some topical blogs can function the way blogomercials do -- but what they have to be are free little articles with real content on their own that relates to the thing you're selling. Say you sell green products. Well, articles about the environrment and questions like "How green do you live?" with a checklist and things like that do warm people up to that topic. Then your link, which is just one passive little resource, is going to be a lot more appealing than the hard sell pitch for oh no, not again, that dang soap.

You are spot on in this article and I appreciate it.

Comment by Linda Duvall on June 14, 2009 at 5:40pm: I haven't really done any blogging but this was very interesting. I agree that maybe what we need to do is just put some information out there that is helpful to someone else and see what happens. I have learned alot from the internet but am very confused as to what is right and wrong. There is too much and everyone says something different.

Thanks for the information. I thought it was very good.