Earlier, we covered the tools I recommend for listenting and reading other blogs. That’s the side of the conversation the companies I work with learn first – and sometimes, it’s the only side we work on.
If we get that part down, there’s a better chance for success on the other side of the conversation – publishing a blog. Let’s look at the tools I recommend for the talking and writing side of business blogging:
- A Timer: Once we’ve determined the frequency of posting that makes sense, we write out time guidelines. This included post composition, spell-check, linking, tagging and pinging. Budgeting time is as important as budgeting finances. Without the guidelines and a timer to remind us when to stop, blogging can get addictive (ya think?)
- Blogware: Typepad. It’s inexpensive, flexible, offers in-depth support and is implementing some great features (i.e., Category Clouds) and works with FeedBurner. With TypepadPro, Advanced Templates give a business tremendous flexibility in design.
- Feed Publishing: FeedBurner. Is there a blogging tool that’s easier to use or more valuable? Publishing a feed is easy, branding your feed is a must, FeedFlare allows a company to have a call-to-action in the feed.
- Tagging: KeoTag. You can copy and paste your tags right into your blog editor, HTML-free. Tagging is important for findability reasons. If you can be found, you can build relationships. If you can build relationships, you can build business.
- Pinging: Pingoat. Ping once, save the bookmark, and it’s one click away from here on out.
- Blog Posting Mantra: Maybe it’s not like the one I use, but have something as a guide.
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Find Your Social Media ROI
I hear it from a lot of business owners: “Where is the ROI with all this Social Media?“ If this is a question you ask yourself, maybe we should work together a bit more. We can work together solo, or via a professional learning community. Find and increase your ROI. There is a “there” there.
