Three Do's and Three Don'ts for Beginning Small Business Bloggers.

1. The Three (plus) Do’s & Don’ts
of Blogging
Ann Zuccardy
WBON Spring Conference, May 9 2012

2. To Blog or Not to Blog?
 Blogging is social media. And like
Shakespeare’s work, its value is timeless.
 Position yourself as an expert.
 Help solve your clients’ and prospects’
problems.
 Build trust.
 Educate.
 Increase traffic to your web site.
 Why blog? Promote a business or a passion.
www.az-communications.com

3. Tip One: Do Post Regularly
 Create content calendar and stick to
it (or pay someone to do it for you).
 Schedule posts about industry
holidays, made-up holidays, events,
invite guest bloggers.
 Length of 250-500 words.
 Bullet points and images are your
friends.
 “Sexy” titles attract readers.
www.az-communications.com

4. Tip Two: Do Comment on
Other Blogs
 How do you feel when someone
comments on one of your social
media platforms?
 How do you make Google trust you?
 Blogging (and all social media) is a
slow dance, not a one-night stand.
 Top down blogging: if you want to go
viral, get someone who is popular in
social media to promote you.
www.az-communications.com

5. Tip Three:Give More Than You Take
 Give away valuable information.
 If what you give is powerful, it will
attract the right people for your cause.
 Provide valuable content that seemingly
has no sales agenda…but links back to
what you have to offer.
 You won’t “get rich quick” blogging, but
you will build strong relationships and
reach.
 Be a guest blogger on blogs you admire.
 Develop relationships with the experts.
www.az-communications.com

6. Tip One: Don’t Take it Personally
When People Disagree with You
 Your blog is your living room. YOU are in
control of the conversation (but it’s good
manners to let others talk even when they
disagree).
 How you reply may set the tone for the rest of
the conversation.
 You can delete, respond politely, send
commenter a private email asking for
clarification.
 Develop a comments policy and post it.
 Recognize and praise returning commenters.
 Admit when you are wrong. Be humble. Be
human.
www.az-communications.com

7. Tip Two: Don’t Forget Social Media
“Share” Buttons
 It’s nice to share.
 Readers share your
information on their social
media profiles without
leaving your site.
 Make it easy for people to
share your great information
with widgets.
 Don’t overcrowd widgets.
Pick the ones your readers
are most likely to use.
www.az-communications.com

8. Tip Three: Don’t Obsess Over
Statistics
 Don’t be a Blogbore ( or a
Klobsessor, Twitsnob or Facefiend)
 Don’t focus on what the “popular
kids” are doing. Focus on what you
do better than they do.
 Look for steady improvement (hits,
leads, comments, shares).
 Yes, SEO is important, but don’t
obsess or your posts will be
borrrrrring.
www.az-communications.com

9. What Should I Write About?
 Write in a personal, conversational voice.
 Posts with images get more clicks.
 The most important word in blogging is YOU.
 Solve a problem and/or entertain. Preferably both.
 Skim national news, publications, etc. for post ideas.
 Do an interview.
 Talk about your mistakes.
 Hold a contest.
 Write a book review.
 Make up a holiday and create a buzz about it.
 Ask questions. Invite reader responses.
 Sexy Titles: Ten Tips for…, Seven Signs of…, How to…
www.az-communications.com

10. Examples and Questions
Look at blogs you admire. What
are their owners doing well? What
could they do better?
What did you learn?
Generate ideas for your own blog.
What do you still want to know?
Email me at:
ann@az-communications.com
www.az-communications.com