Helping You Rock Out Your Site Like A Rockstar!

I was an English major the first time I was in college and I have to say that my writing style is far from what it use to be for my blog. I was the one pointing out the errors and being a real grammar snob. And you know what? It was a put off for other people.

The thing is, blogging ain’t perfect and that comes to your blog voice. Your blog voice is what shines through when you write. Blogging already takes guts to do, especially for newbies. It takes time to develop a voice that resonates who you are and for your readers to become comfortable with you.

Now, that does not mean your blog voice is the same as how you speak, but it definitely is something that should come naturally.

I have some advice for both the visiting grammar snob and the blogger when it comes to blogging and the reader.

For the Visiting Grammar Snob

For those who are grammar snobs, it is not okay to be a complete jerk, even when the post is about teaching people something. Believe me, I had to fiddle around in my mind for a civil word. You can however send an email or leave a comment about a post about suggesting a correction. If you are doing that, you should also leave part of your comment directed toward the topic. And if you are selling services to copy edit, that is wrong and it is spam to even do that.

You can be as strict as you want, but you cannot control others. Get over it, be open minded, be helpful, or just click that ‘X’ in the top right of your Internet browser window if you are that turned off about a person’s post because of their grammar and punctuation.

For the Blogger

Do not be afraid to write. Be natural and just in case you do have trouble writing, proof read your post before publishing. Some browsers have spell check extensions that you can install, which will even pick up spelling errors while you type a post in your WordPress backend. If you are more comfortable typing outside of your blog platform or content management system, use Microsoft Word and take advantage of its spell check tool.

In the case that you have trouble proof reading and have a few buddies online, ask if they can skim your post and do a quick proof read. You do not need to hire someone to peruse your post and correct it unless you are trying to write a professional copy that needs to be perfect.

Do you still worry about your writing style? Or are you the grammar snob?

I was talking with a gal, whom I would probably call a colleague when it comes to art in general. She was having issues finding the right colors to inspire her to make her next website layout and not being inspired. Of course, for color issues I told her right away that she should try ColourLovers as a way to look at palettes others have put together. However I also went into explaining about inspiration works for writers and artists in the same way. It is all about experience.

Inspiration can be in anything: the color of a dewdrop dripping from the petals of a flower, in the way a person walks, the shape and texture of an object, and much more. Life is an unending inspiration. Art is Life and life is art. I am not sure if there is a famous phrase similar, but if there is, I would have quoted it already. I am just writing from my experience.

If you want to write about something, but do not know anything about the subject, you research the matter. If you want to draw a picture of a rare object, you find pictures or the real thing. All of the senses are used in finding inspiration.

Web design is a form of art. Yes, it involves a process that may be difficult for some, but the design of a webpage is very much a part of expressing oneself. Often website design takes on trends from time to time and it can be seen. Webmasters learn and inspire each other to build the next layout that becomes eyecandy for others to enjoy. Some share how they accomplish their amazing work through tutorials.

So, if you want to build a website and you just cannot seem to find that exact inspiration, look around and read up on new ways to take your layout and of course, your website to the next level.

Where do you find your inspiration?

You hear it all the time.

“You have to be passionate about blogging.”
“You need to make sure your content is fresh and unique.”

Of course, there are many other tips out there that are re-hashed aplenty.

You might read a lot of repeat material. It can be frustrating, especially if you are really trying to learn something. And no, I am not talking about duplicate content. Everyday there are articles written by various bloggers, and the great thing is that each is written a bit differently and to the blogger’s own experience.

However, how can you make sure that your content is not the same as the next blog?

Easy – Do your research!

If you are writing about a topic that you think has been published over and over, do a search. Read those articles and think about what they are saying and if everything is being covered that should be covered. Sometimes the topic is about an ongoing issue or perhaps, like in web design, there are new techniques. In blogging and social media marketing, there are always new tools and gadgets to help give bloggers and marketers a leg up.

The same advice can be used for guest writers on your own blog. If they are not covering everything, amend the post with the necessary information. While the original author might have taken the time to write a great post, it is your job as the blog owner to make it the best it can be.

A lot of new bloggers are excited about blogging and often get fuel for blog topics from their own peers. Unfortunately, if their peers have not been long in the business, their topics tend to become repeated material. Not good if you are a blogger still in the early stages of building your readership.

In the case you are writing in reference to another blogger’s post, you will probably want to link to the original article, do a summarization of the post, and what your readers can learn from it. This is great for your authority and gives a little link juice to the original author.

Natural knowledge only goes so far. Be resourceful and research. It will definitely help your content is different from the next blog.

What resources do you like to use for your research? Do you like to link back to original articles?

You know your niche, right? If not, finding topics for your site might be on the difficult side. However, it really comes down to one thing: your knowledge of the topics or that single topic.

Some niche are wide and you can get away with writing a lot, but some are so narrow, it might make coming up with posts a little difficult.

The solution: keep on top of your niche community by researching. If it is reading competitors’ websites, rubbing elbows with both newbies and experts, then do it. Participate in discussions, do interviews, do what it takes to make sure you establish yourself and your blog as a strong authority in your part of your blogging community. Be active about your blogging and put to the table new ideas for people to try out. It is important that if you really want to be passionate and blog about certain topics, that your knowledge can back you up.

For example, I was asked by a reader on how to help with ideas on writing articles and getting traffic to their web hosting site. I answered that he should write about topics from the types of web hosting available to consumers, suggestions for design, deals out there for business owners looking for good services (including affiliate links to those services if possible), and much more. The fact of the matter is that I wanted him to know that he can write about anything that involves web hosting. He just has to do the work to research or bring what he already knows to the table.

It is not the first I have been asked to brainstorm some writing prompts. I have been doing that ever since my high school days when I was co-editor of the school newspaper. (Wow – a long time ago! lol )

If your niche is way too narrow, perhaps widening up the focus of your website might be necessary. This will allow you to keep your site alive and include other topics that you might enjoy.

What advice do you have for bloggers a bit stumped? What niche have you found it a bit difficult to write about extensively because it was a bit too narrow to cover?

Whether you won a project in a freelancer website or acquired a project in person or through social networking online, it takes time to get a project done and communication between the service provider and the client. It is the communication that is important and one of the largest failures that can happen during a project.

Some of the scenarios involve:

• The client know what they want, but unable to communicate it.
• The freelancer did not read the original project and understand what was needed, nor asked the necessary questions up front to clarify the project.
• The freelancers is not resourceful enough or not knowledgeable to complete the project successfully.
• The client has the project done, but unsatisified.
• The client likes the project so far, but requires numerous revisions.
• The client requests for something outside the agreed project contract and expects the freelancer to do it for free (freelancer has previously stated their terms on extra services.)
• The client does not have complete content or information to send and has to be asked a lot.
• The client still has no idea what they want.

The problem is that a lot of freelancers, and please note that I do not say most or all, because not every freelancer does this – they block off an amount of time for a project. Sometimes the service provider will have several projects scheduled over the course of a few days, a week, a couple weeks, or more. It all depends on the comfort level the freelancer has when taking on a workload.

Especially in web design, and sometimes other types of freelance work, it is imperative to at least have over 90% of the work completed before showing the client. 100% is even better.

1. Let the client look over the first proof.
2. Have the client put together a list of feedback, much like a checklist so everything that is missing or needs to be done can be tackled.
3. Go over revision checklist and fix or answer questions if an explanation is needed (sometimes the client will put questions in.)
4. Send back completed revision checklist for client to check for a second proof.
5. If all is good, great. If there are a few more, ask for another revision checklist and repeat process until satisfied.

Personally, I allow for 3 revisions. For anyone with a busy workload, more than 3 revisions is too much time being spent playing cat and mouse trying to go through each individual request. Make a list!!! In putting this policy of 3 revisions, or whatever number you have for yourself, you are effectively making your workload more efficient.

No freelancer is psychic – although I have had a few that I have gotten the project right on the first proof, communication is key.

What is your revision policy with clients?

Every November, thousands of people dedicate their time to trying to write 50,000 words in under 1 month’s time for National Novel Writing Month – also known at NaNoWriMo. I have been participating and this will be my 4th year.

Instead of dedicating a month to writing fantasy or science fiction as I have in the past NaNoWriMo, I am finally going to just start my whitepaper “The World of Making Money Online.”

I am really excited to start. I know with all the resources and my thoughts, I can put in 50,000 words, which is half a novel’s work. Once it is done, I will be offering it for download as a reward for those who have signed up for my Weekly Blondish.net newsletter. By the way, if you have not already, I recommend it. (It is in the sidebar.)

Have you participated in National Novel Writing Month? What do you like to write about?

I have just some good ways to give your blog more exposure and make it more popular, so let us begin without wasting time.

1. Do not start if your aim is for publicity
   During these past 4 years I have always defended those who decided to put advertising on their blogs, but it is very different if that someone started this activity with publicity as a sole ambition. First, it could be considered as work and second, unless you experience the results, they will be poor and mediocre.
2. You set the rules
   Never let anyone tell you what you can or can not do on your site. Written rules about what you have to do to have a good blog become obsolete every time someone comes to do things better and have their own ideas of how to do this. Occasionally you’ll get recommendations, but again, you decide what is best for your site. That process is educational and interesting.
3. Forget statistics
   Wherever possible, avoid the use of statistical control tools. Being aware of them tends to be more negative than positive because you will focus on that rather than what you should be doing -having fun and writing on your blog. Today there who dedicated efforts not to keep a blog but to feed its statistical system with more and more page views. Can not have fun in that.
4. Look after the appearance of your site
   Caring for the appearance of your site is very important, and not just because of what others may say – but for yourself too. Use templates if you consider it necessary, but in that case, try giving a personal touch.
5. Try to pace yourself
   Sometimes it’s important to read the daily update, but again, these tips are for your happiness and not to improve your stats. Therefore, seek a frequency that suits your available time and tries to keep pace. That will get you up to date and above all not to leave your blog stale. One more recommendation: Please avoid MiniPosts which are not useful for your readers and meaningless.

How do you keep yourself happy with your blog?

If you want your website to simultaneously draw in customers and sit proudly atop search engine rankings, there is no escaping the fact that fresh content is the key.

You have probably heard this statement so many times that is had lost some of its impact. But it is worth reminding yourself of it from time to time, because the moment you start to overlook the importance of well-written, freshly-produced copy is the moment you start to lose customers and slide inexorably down search rankings.

Image Courtesy: djheights.com

Most companies now recognise the vital importance of content generation and how it can increase success, which is why SEO is currently such a thriving industry. However, in focusing solely on their own potential glory, many companies tend to forget one important fact. Namely, that without their loyal, paying customers, their business is nothing.

In the global marketplace, a big reputation alone simply isn’t enough to bring in new clients and sustain a company’s operations. New customers need to be drawn to your business, engaged by the services you provide and encouraged to keep coming back for more. For this to happen, you need to ensure that your site is regularly updated, and that the content you produce is 100% relevant to your potential and existing customers

Churning out pages of new content just to please the search engines is not enough. While it may keep the likes of Google happy for a while, your website will ultimately be used by living, breathing visitors who care very little for keywords. What users want is original, well-written and authoritative content that tells them what they need to know with the minimum of fuss.

If you can provide them with what they are looking for, your company will be seen as a trustworthy source and your chances of converting that visitor into a long-term customer will increase dramatically. That newly-converted customer will then spread the word within his or her industry, and within no time a wave of new visitors will surge towards your site.