It’s not a secret that we are huge WordPress secrets for blogging, especially since we have been offerring SEO blog templates for WordPress for years.  If you are an expert you already know that WordPress has Meta tags and other built in amazing tools for SEO.  You know that WordPress.org offers the MU (Multi-User), and the blogging software for FREE.  Which always catapults the most feature rich blogging tool in to being #1.

So Why is WordPress.com the best blogging platform?  Because it helps you setup a blog on your own domain for custom hosting within minutes and only $15/year (yes that is a year), DID WE MENTION INCLUDING THE DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATION? YES, THAT IS TRUE.

Some of us are not technical, and so the fact that WordPress.com hosts our free blogs is great, but we really want to be professional and blogging on our own domain allows us all to do that.  So the fact that it is super easy is another best feature.  Folks, I tried and spent hours on TypePad the (self proclaimed professional blog), it stinks.  I was willing to pay the $149/year (thank god they did not charge my credit card), but it was too rigid, templates were not professional enough, and the SEO was weak.  I expected so much more, but I would have just settled for an easy interface, but they simply made things hard for me to navigate.  Also TYPEPAD fees are non-refundable, so DO NOT BUY or Pay full in advance they do not prorate your monthly payments.  After the 14 day trial, you are literally hosed, stuck with their weaker blogging system.

Blogger and Blogspot are easy and Ok, they also allow domain hosting, for free I think.  Blogger blogging platform, is owned by Google, so it’s not that bad, nothing Google does is bad.  It simply does not have the features and customization that WordPress.com blogging has.

Anyway, It’s taken me a few days to blog about this topic as I have been busy blogging about my wife’s book Mommy’s Little Money$Maker, an Inspiration Guide for Mom’s to start a business or earn a part time income.  Check it out at MomBite.com, she has been blogging their every day.  She plans to provide a daily MomBite, a featured business owned and started by a Mom that can help to inspire other Mom’s.  Enjoy and don’t be afraid to pass it on to other Mom’s.  Thanks!

Sorry I have not blogged for a while, and the Holidays this year have simply been too calming.  You see Seattle has been underseiged by Snow, way too much snow.  For two weeks now, and finally today it’s over.  The 12″ plus of snow is melting, and I am finally back in the mood for blogging and thinking about work.  So what did I do besides working from home this holidays?  I worked out a lot, as the gym is just 2 blocks away, well actually less than 2 blocks, it’s about a block and an alley.  This also allowed me to read, and since football season is almost over, I read some more.  What did I read?

While I was bored reading “Freaknomics” great book, but boring.  I decided to pick up the new Malcolm Gladwell book “Outliers”.  It’s a historical outlook on what makes people successful.  And the book is quite amazing, I finished it in 2 days.  I am usually too busy to read a whole book in 2 days, plus the fact is I have two young ones.  I just don’t want to spend that much time on something, unless it’s really worth it.  The book reads really well, not only from the interesting analogies of old time success.  But, it also provides tangible proof that success comes from persistencant hard work and a little bit of luck.  Not to mention that IQ has little impact, but it’s the social skills and outlook which are just as important as Opportunity.

The key to success based on the book is based on many factors, and it’s worth reading.  Most importantly I remind myself to not give up and focus on the core of my skills so that I can develop my skills for up to 10 years so that I can have success in my field.  Success does come to those who wait, but they often have to wait with persistence and thank the gods for the timing of their ventures or field.  Hey while why not plug in my Marketing book, “Marketing is a CONTACT sport”, it’s quite impressive on success of your online marketing.

The ability to write well and communicate in a clear, precise manner are necessary skills for anyone who wishes to create a compelling blog. After all, email, blog posts, or other forms of written communication are essential to doing business and interacting on the web, so you need to make sure that your words stand out from the rest (in a good way).

The purpose of this series is help bloggers of all kinds make an impact with their words.  Quality writing is particularly important when you’re blogging to promote yourself or your business, because your blog is your introduction, your opening statement, and your business card, resume, and other credentials all rolled into one.

I’ll start with spelling grammar, and punctuation, because those are the building blocks of language, and therefore your blog. Some people argue that these things don’t matter at all because the web is an informal medium, but these people are wrong. Proper grammar and spelling are like clothing – yes, you can wear a ratty t-shirt and sweats everywhere, but you won’t get the respect you would in a nicely tailored jacket.  It’s a fact that people judge others by their appearances, and on the net, your words form a major part of your appearance. You wouldn’t wear a wrinkled shirt to an important meeting, would you? Edit and spell-check your posts, and if you’re unsure of something, look it up.

Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com are excellent starting points if you have spelling or usage questions (it’s also a good idea to look up your keywords in a thesaurus in order to find alternate terms and phrases searchers may use in their queries). Of course, if you are using more academic or technical terms, you’ll need to find a more niche-specific resource.  Also, don’t overlook the basics: try googling your grammar questions, or search the Grammar Rules: The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation (a very comprehensive site on English grammar, including an excellent blog).

Of course, blogging is more conversational than other forms of business communication, so you don’t necessarily need to obey the rules to the letter. Things like one sentence paragraphs, using “and” as the first word of a sentence or ending one with a preposition are all acceptable in the name of style.  However, it’s absolutely essential to know the rules before you can break them properly, and it’s just as necessary to be aware that there are few conventions that you just can’t disregard (correct usage of there, they’re, and their, for instance).  The Copyblogger has two excellent posts on grammar and spelling rules that you just can’t break without appearing stupid.

Yes, carefully proofreading your posts may take a little longer, but when you’re using your blog as a promotional tool, it’s worth it to make sure your message is being read clearly and correctly.  It’s also important to remember that we all make mistakes (hey, that’s what the “edit” button is for), but there is no excuse for sloppiness and lazy writing.  Your readers are your most valuable asset and they deserve the best blog you can possible create.

After all, only your reputation is at stake.

Traditional media does have a place in the blogosphere – it gives bloggers something to talk about.  This week’s installment of how to beat blogger’s block involves reviewing, criticizing, and discussing items from old school formats.

1.  Review a book.  Has anything interesting been published in your niche lately?  Is there a book that everyone’s talking about it?  Read it and share your opinions.  Go into detail – if you loved it, explain why you think it’s great.  Ditto if you hated it.  Quote the parts you like and give your readers an idea of what they find in the book.  If you’re in PR, for example, cover a recently published book like The New PR: An Insider’s Guide to Changing the Face of Public Relations by Phil Hall.

2.  Critique a newspaper article.  Whether it is your local paper or the NY Times, chances are someone has written something about your blog’s topic.  Link to the article if you can (or provide a summary if you can’t find it online), and tell your readers how you felt about it.  Did the reporters get it right?  Write an op-ed style response or just point your readers in the direction of an awesome piece.  One possibility is for a sports blogger to link to their local paper and provide more detailed coverage of their favorite team (hey, on the web, you’re not limited by column inches).

3. Comment on a TV Show. Television counts when it comes to media (in fact, it’s the most popular form in the U.S.), so if there is a show that’s related to your blog’s topic, talk about it.  For instance, if you’re a real estate agent, comment on Flip That House or one of the many home improvement shows.  Did you see anything really innovative or completely unrealistic?  Be the expert opinion, and don’t forget to search for clips on You Tube to add dimension to your blog.

4.  Provide an overview of a magazine.  Look at any newstand and you’ll see tons of different publications, and chances are there are there are related to your niche.  Pick out the best for your readers and let them know what’s in that month’s issue (chances are you read magazines that cover your field anyways, so why not use that as blog fodder?), or write an in-depth review of a particular article.  Do you own a trendy boutique?  Check out the editorials in the latest glossies, and compare them to your shop’s current offerings, or if you’re a stylist, offer less expensive alternatives to the high end pieces that are often featured.

5.  Respond to a radio show.  If you hear something interesting on the radio, make note of it and talk about it later on your blog.  Don’t be afraid to respond in kind by creating a podcast as well (but be sure to write too, because you can’t use your keywords in a way that matters to search engines in podcasts).  Be sure to check out the radio station’s website to see if they have more information on the program.

When you’re working on your blog, don’t be afraid to look outside the blogosphere for potential blog fodder.  After all, there’s a whole world of media out there that’s just full of ideas.

Inspiration is a tricky thing.  Sometimes you’re firing on all cylinders and you just have tons of great ideas that you can’t wait to share with the world, but other times you end up staring a blank screen wondering what in the world to write about today.  I know that I’ve definitely been there.

Since it has been established that No One Cares What You Had For Lunch (a book of ideas for blog posts that I’d definitely recommend, if only to kickstart your creative side once in a while), how do you pull a quality post out of your hat?  Starting today, on Mondays I’m going to post a list of creative tips to help you beat blogger’s block and write something awesome.  After all, even the best of us need a little creative spark from time to time.

1.  Write about a recent triumph, whether it was large or small.  For instance, did you land a great new client or any kind of award?  This can be anything from selling a beautiful piece of property if you’re a real estate agent to having something published if you’re a writer or photographer (be sure to link to the piece if possible).

2.  Share some handy tips. Did you figure any new time-saving tricks, productivity boosts, or life hacks that might help someone else out? Check out sites like Zen Habits and Pick the Brain for more ideas here.

3.  Interview someone – a colleague, a satisfied client, someone prominent in your field.  Hint: most bloggers like to be interviewed provided it doesn’t take tons of their time, so contact other bloggers in your niche, particularly ones who get more traffic, and ask if they’d like to be interviewed.  An added bonus: they’ll probably link to your interview at their own site, sending some traffic your way.

4.  Make a list. As evidenced by the many lists I’ve posted in this blog, I like lists.  Other people like lists too, because they are scannable and instantly let the reader know what they are getting into.  Lists can cover any topic; for instance, five ways to solve a particular problem or seven reasons why a certain item is a must-have.

5.  Link the news.  Have any good articles or blog posts been written about your niche lately?  The web is vast enough that there is probably something interesting out there, so find a few things and link to them.  Be sure to put the links in context with a short description through, otherwise your readers won’t know what they are clicking on (so they probably won’t).

Yesterday I went to the Printer’s Row Book Fair (one of the many interesting events in Chicago) to check out all the cool books for sale and meet up with a few local writers.  Not surprisingly, many authors have blogs that they use to promote their work and share their stories.  However, just as many seem to either dismiss both the internet and blogosphere as a community of dilettantes and plagiarists.

Although everyone is entitled their own opinion, I think that neglecting to realize the full scope of the web is dangerous.  There is some great content online, and for many, the web is their main source of news, information and entertainment.  Younger generations even tend to view search engines as an extension of their brains.

Blogging has democratized publishing – anyone with a computer and an internet connection can become a writer.  Granted, there is a whole lot of chaff out there, but once you separate the wheat you see how blogs can be a very powerful promotional tool and means of expression.  You don’t necessarily have to be the next Hemingway, either.  Just write simply and clearly about what you know.  It’s a way to build your personal brand and share your expertise with current and potential employers, clients, and customers.   Even the New York Times (check out this article entitled “Can Blogs Become a Big Source of Jobs?”) has recognized the value of blogging!

If you’re really worried about plagiarism, encourage people to link back if they quote you (this is just good “netiquette” anyways) and add a Creative Commons license to your site.

In closing, here’s a cool book to pick up if you’re interested in how digital media is changing publishing, I picked up a book called Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times.  It’s a collection of essays by young writers about writing, technology, and the web.  Edited by Kevin Smokler (who has a blog, naturally), it’s a good read even if you’re not part of the media world.