1. Blogging to Grow your Business
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2. Thanks to Sierra Commons.
Our local business ignitor!
Coryon Redd
coryon@gmail.com
Coryon.com
Erin Thiem
erin@outsideinn.com
View this presentation online at:
http://www.coryon.com/sc_blogging
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3. Why should I blog for business?

4. Here’s Why!
Blog Marketing Starts with Content
Generate Traffic, Leads and Sales
Link Bait for SEO
Build Trust and Relationships
Answer Questions
Increase Brand Awareness
Generate Traffic, Leads and Sales
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5. Make your Blog the Hub
of your Online Marketing

6. Spread the Word
Blogger Outreach
Answer Questions in Forums
RSS Directories
Press Releases
Social Media
• Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.

7. Social Marketing:
Blogging Best Practices
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Develop an editorial policy / mission statement
What is your voice? – Clear content, style and tone
Show your expertise – Build your prestige
Check your spelling and grammar
Don’t market directly through your blog
Plan your content ahead of time
Use multimedia content – Pictures, videos, etc.
Use good titles – descriptive and eye catching
Interact – reply to comments
Distribute – Use social bookmarking, Twitter, Facebook
Read more - http://www.coryon.com/blogging-best-practices
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8. Find Your Audience, Plan Your Content
Who’s Your Audience?
Fish Where the Fish Are
Brainstorm Interesting Topics
Keyword Research
Survey Customers
Social Listening Tools
Google Alerts, Topsy.com, SocialMention.com
Check out:
http://econsultancy.com/us/blog/11422-19-tools-to-improve-your-content-marketing-strategy

9. Researching your Market:
Finding Blogs and Getting Started
• Find Forums and Blogs
• Google search for “keyword” +forum or +blog
• Google for topic and +”leave a reply”
• Use Google Alerts.
• Find Top Users
• Who posts the most, Power users page, most
comments on posts.
• Create profile
• Add homepage of your website to profile and
honest details.
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10. Get to Know
the Outside Inn
History
Mission
A Bit about the Hospitality Industry
Locally Focused Marketing
Learn more at Outsideinn.com/about-us/
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11. The movie “The Christmas Card”
brings visitors to Nevada City.
Match your blog content to the
market!
http://outsideinn.com/blog/hallmark-movie-the-christmas-card-locations.htm/
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12. • Look at past blog posts to
see if they can be updated
• Add text to images to bring
blog content to life
• Create Pinterest friendly
images
• Pin and drive traffic to blog
• http://outsideinn.com/blog/best
-of-nevada-county-hikes.htm/
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13. Epic Outside Inn Blog Giveaway
• Encourages local businesses
to donate items
• Visitors must comment to
enter
• Sharing on social media
doubles your chances
• Very popular because people
win great stuff!
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14. Content Creation vs. Content Curation
Source: http://pinterest.com/coryonredd/infographics/

15. Editorial Calendar (Oh no, it’s a spreadsheet)

16. Blogging for Business:
Pick a platform (Psst… It’s Wordpress)
• Wordpress – Free, open source, easy to
install on most hosts.
• Wordpress.org – Download, Themes,
Plugins, Forums and Support.
• Blogging – It’s got that too.
• Others include: blogger.com, hubpages.com,
squidoo.com, typepad.com
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17. A Few Words about WordPress
WordPress is a free and easy to use tool
to build websites. www.wordpress.org
Why use WordPress?
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Easy to use
Lives on your website
Free
Many Themes available – Most are free
SEO friendly
Plugins allow customization
Big user community
Lots of support

18. Wordpress Support and Tutorials
http://becomeablogger.com/
Learn how to blog and use word press
http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
Over 1000 free themes
http://mogdesign.eu/blog/ultimate-wordpress-tutorial-collection/
Big list of wordpress tutorials
http://www.siteground.com/tutorials/wordpress/
List of specific WordPress articles including setup, SEO and backup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWYi4_COZMU
45 minute tutorial on how to use WordPress
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19. Blogging and SMM References
Create compelling content for your blog – Lots of ideas
http://www.copyblogger.com/
Blogging glossary (including dofollow/nofollow)
http://www.bloggingbasics101.com/2010/03/blogging-glossary-defining-basicblogging-terms/
21 Tactics to increase blog traffic
http://www.seomoz.org/blog/21-tactics-to-increase-blog-traffic
7 tips to increase your blog comments
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/7-tips-to-increase-your-blog-comments/
Tips and lots of links for small business owners
http://www.successfulblogging.com/essential-blogging-tips-from-2010/
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20. More Blogging and SMM References
Why a blog should have an editorial policy
http://blog.case.edu/webdev/2008/05/04/editorialpolicy.html
Blog Commenting to increase PageRank
http://www.seohosting.com/blog/link-strategies/effective-blog-commenting-toincrease-page-rank/
How to find dofollow blogs:
http://www.smuggecko.com/seo-tips-how-to-find-dofollow-blogs/
Ad Age list of top marketing blogs
http://adage.com/power150/
2011 review of best blogging software
http://blog-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
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