I thought it might be fun (and useful!) to post a Monday Challenge for the next couple of weeks.
If you like it I might make it a regular feature – let me know…
So this week your challenge is to…
Take one extra step to promote your business blog.
Drop me a comment and let me know how it goes (plus you’ll get a link to your blog, which is a little bit of promotion in itself!)
Here are some ways you could promote your blog this week:
- Join a forum
Pick one that is visited by your target audience, make sure it allows you to put your URL in your signature and read the terms and conditions carefully. Then, staying within the Ts&Cs, help people and show them you’re an expert.
Maybe you’ve been a forum member for a while but have been just lurking? This week, become active in that forum instead.
- Twitter and Facebook
Make sure every blog post is announced on Twitter and your Facebook page. You can do this automatically with NetworkedBlogs or TwitterFeed. Schedule some tweets with a link to your older but most popular blog posts using Hootsuite or Tweetdeck
- Boost your content
How can you really add value to your readers? What do they want to know? How can you give that to them? Commit to stepping up the quality of your content this week.
- Blog Carnivals
Enter a blog carnival (hint: Business Mums Blog Carnival!). Do a Google search on ‘blog carival’ and your key words to see if there are any on the same subject as your blog.
If there are no blog carnivals in your field, why not start one?
- Guest Post
Draw up a list of blogs with a readership similar to your target audience. Check to see if they have a policy on guest blogging and make sure you follow it. If the policy is OK with this, email the owner if they would like to feature you as a guest blogger. Tell them a little about your blog and give them a list of possible subjects that you could cover. Offer to feature them as a guest blogger in return.
- Comments
Set yourself a target of (say) 3 comments a day for a week. Comment on blogs with a similar readership to your own but make sure you add something to the conversation, rather than just saying ‘great post!’
- You Tube
Record a video, upload it to You Tube and embed it in a blog post. It’s not as scary as it sounds – stand a video camera on a pile of books on your desk, speak your blog post into the camera instead of writing it, download onto PC and upload to You Tube. Your first video won’t be perfect (Yes, you’ll cringe when you see yourself in the video!) but you’ll have taken that daunting first step towards video marketing.
- Be helpful
Help other bloggers promote their blogs and they will return the favour. Retweet them on Twitter, mention them on your Facebook page, ask if they would like to be guest bloggers on your blog.
- Not got a blog?
This week, have a think about if now a good time to start one. Blogs can be great for getting fresh content on your website, telling customers about new products and increasing your search engine rankings. But keeping them up to date takes time and commitment, so you need to weigh up if it’s right for you and your business.
Good luck and let me know how it goes!
photo credit: theinfinite
I’ve only just taken over my friends blog six weeks ago so this is all very new to me.
But I have signed up to the RSS feed and commented on about 20 blogs. I have entered 2 blogging carnivals. I have tweeted till I’m blue in the face. And I’m certainly finding it lots of fun.
And in case anyone is interested my blog is at http://www.motivatingmum.co.uk/wp My posts begin with Goodbye Alli, Hello Debbie and continue from there.
Hi Debbie, thanks for letting us know about your blogging progress. Wishing you loads of success with your blog!
Thank you for the tips, will google to find the right forums to join to reach fashionista
x
Kalicat
You’re very welcome, Kalicat – good luck with it!
brilliant, brilliant ideas. I am off to look at the business mums blog carnival – will let you know how I get on 😉
Amelia.x
Thank you! It’s lovely to hear from you, keep in touch!
Hi Helen,
I am on the path of setting up a website for my new business FindAUniform (due to be launched in next two weeks). I really appreciated the tips above – as I am slowly finding my way around social media. I agree about actually participating as opposed to just gathering as many links, friends or followers – it is a fine line that I am learning about interacting/helping others and just promoting my business. I had been a bit weary of carnivals but will give it a go ….think I may leave You Tube a little longer but I am sure I will get there. Thanks for your blog – a challenge is a great way to provide the motivation to step outside comfort zone. Many thanks again, Bern
http://www.findauniform.blogspot.com
Thank you very much Bern, I hope it all goes really well for you! I agree that You Tube can wait until you feel ready for it – I’ve not been using it myself for very long. Maybe I’ll see you at the blog carnival?
Helen,
I am writing a blog as we ‘speak’ – aim to finish over the weekend and tick off the Monday blog challenge. I have found Twitter to be a great way to interact and increase google rankings. Thanks for encouragement with website – just finalising a final test run through this afternoon and aim to be live by the end of next week – all very exciting.
cheers
Bern
Oops! Just noticed end date of Fri 12 Nov for Nov blog carnival – best get on with it and stop procrastinating!
cheers
Bern (Business plus four babies)
FindAUniform…easy, affordable, green.
Great advice. I wish I had more time to comment on peoples blogs – this is why I like the carnivals so I can comment in one go. It is so satisfying when others comment on yours too. Good to receive and give.