Learn the what and why of gratitude posts. Discover how expressing thanks in a blog post can encourage reader engagement and increase product sales in business, all in under ten minutes on the Be Seen Blogging podcast.

Transcript:

Hello, it’s Jen Miller and you are listening to Be Seen Blogging, the podcast where you learn tips and trick for improving your website content, all in under 10 minutes. Today we are going to be discussing Gratitude Posts and Why They Work.

At the year closes in, each of us experiences moments of reflection on the highs and lows of the year. We think about the surprises, the people, the milestones and the experiences for which we are most grateful. For this reason (and many others) gratitude posts resonate with readers. Based on expressing personal feelings, gratitude posts are a key way to connect and mirror life experiences, because even though details may be widely different, we all can relate to stories of triumph, challenge and vulnerability.

Expressing gratitude makes the world a little smaller and each of our relationships more significant. Showing you are thankful for your clients, co-workers or the impact a speaker or friend has had on your life makes you more approachable. Maybe there are a hundred and one little things you’d list that make you grateful. If so, write them up in a blog post. You’ll find that the more of those you share, the more others will want to bring you into their lives.

You may be thinking that gratitude has nothing to do with your business, that it won’t help you in search results and that it has no place on your blog. And if you do, I’d say you are out of touch. Everyone likes to be thanked. Every reader likes to know that you know they follow you. When you reach out through a blog post and acknowledge others it shows you care. If you take it a step further and email the post with a special note to your key contributors – whether they are clients or collaborators – you become more memorable. Be authentic and show some heart – these people will champion you!

Explain the milestones you’ve seen or share a story of how you’ve helped someone as it relates to your industry. Mention names and places, numbers and goals. Write about how you are going to do better in the new year and explain where you thought things went right in the last. Share photos and letters of appreciation you’ve received and how those made you feel. You’ll find that once you start, the words will flow. I’ve had some clients use this type of post as the groundwork script for creating a video, too. You’ll find that your audience will appreciate every word and that it will change you, too.

I love when my clients come back to me with stories of how they met someone new because of a blog post. I especially love when clients share a gratitude post and call me explaining that it helped them connect with someone who they hadn’t spoken with in years. I’ve had this experience myself, so I know it works.

Last year a friend of mine suggested I write up a post on gratitude and it prompted my post, Finding Gratitude in Simplicity. I found myself flooded with phone calls and emails – from new, current and past clients and friends. I’m telling you these posts really work! An added bonus is that they will make you reflect on the goodness in your life.

Gratitude plays a big role in my life. As a business owner I am responsible for the livelihood of our staff. Need Someone To Blog has grown at an incredible rate in the last 3 years and as we’ve grown our staff has increased and flourished, in more than business.

Lives have been changed.

Some team members have gotten married. Others have announced babies and advanced degrees on the way. Others have found writing as a tool for focusing as they’ve gone through hard personal times. One of our writers took a leave of absence to serve in the Peace Corps in Africa and has experienced life in a way that few can understand. Reading Chris’ posts has given me a greater appreciation for sacrifice and for my own freedoms.

Life isn’t easy but as a team we have been blessed. It has been an amazing year for all of us and I am grateful to have witnessed it.

I started this podcast not knowing what it would bring and have been shocked by the opportunities it has given me. I am grateful to my business coach, Darin, who encouraged and pushed me to launch Be Seen Blogging even when I didn’t feel “ready.” I am grateful to you, my listeners, for downloading episodes and sharing them with your friends. Because of you, my podcast has reached far beyond what I could have imagined. It’s hard to believe, but we’ve connected with many new clients due to the podcast launch and I thank you for that!

I’m grateful to live in a country where I have a voice that can expressed and that I have opportunity to live the values that I choose. My family and friends bring me joy. Life is good most days. Now it’s your turn, what are you grateful for? Who can you thank? Start writing it down and I’ll catch up with you next week (unless I hear from you before)! You can reach me on Twitter at jenblogs4u or on through NeedSomeonetoBlog.com Talk to you next week!

Discover methods for creating post conference blog posts that are worth reading! Utilize the topics of the conference to expand and share your knowledge. Your posts create resources on your website on relevant, trending topics, making it even more valuable.

Transcript:

Hi, I’m Jen Miller your host on Be Seen Blogging, the podcast where you get ideas, tips and tricks on ways to improve your website content in under 10 minutes. On episode #15, today’s episode, we are going to cover the Importance of Post Conference Blog Posts.

If you have your own website, chances are that you are pretty involved in your cause, group, industry or business. As such, you likely attend conferences, summits, Meetups or some other type of influential get-together. Writing about these on your blog can be a golden opportunity. Why? you ask. Because they show that you were in the right place at the right time, they demonstrate that you are ever-learning and that you care and want to excel in your field. Plus, conference bring new speakers, topics and keywords into your world… and your website.

A conference may spark several blog posts – however even one will build your authority and provide new keywords for which your website can be seen.

What are the important elements to include in this type of blog post? Photos and a recap in your words. Don’t quote the program on inline description, show up to the workshops and listen to the speakers. Tweet out comments you like so you can reference them later or take notes. AND get a picture or multiples photos from the presentations, of you with fellow attendees or of anything you feel will add color and enthusiasm to your blog post.

Make sure you have permission to include the photo before taking it to protect yourself from future issues. This applies to video as well.

Before going to the conference – schedule out time to write the post – whether it’s later that night or the next day. Do not let too much time pass or you start to lose relevancy and interest.

At the conference listen in for related materials you might want to add to your post – slide decks, websites and other resources. When taking photos, try to position yourself so that the room looks well-represented. If you can’t see an audience, your readers might wonder if people really showed up.

Speaking of that, if a keynote speaker shares statistics you find valuable such as the number of people in attendance, write about them! And ask someone in the room what they thought of the talk, people love to be quoted and it adds authenticity to your post as well. Before publishing, check social media profiles and hashtags used for the event – you may find other great material that can be added as links in your own post.

As far as what to write – that depends on your note taking abilities. Great notes make for great posts. Share your experience or aha moments as it relates to the topic. Share ideas you may have overheard in the group discussion.

Above all share interesting material.

No one really wants to know the speaker lineup after the event is over – what they want to know is the most valuable information gained. You may find that asking a question of the speaker following the talk brings you unique content and if so, sprinkle that in as well.

I recently spoke at a WordPress event in Orange County and I loved having people approach me afterwards with questions, comments and gratitude and seeing others share their experience on social media. You can bet I will remember those people! So don’t be intimidated! I know you’ll have the same experience when you reach out to speakers at your conferences, too.

As a recap, Pick your top 5 highlights and any other that keep coming to mind and only write about those. Remember that sideline conversations and rehashed overused topics provide little value to your reader.

Consider embedding a survey or poll in your post to find out what people learned in other sessions. You can do this using your own form with solutions like jotform or wufoo or if you have WordPress website there are a variety of plugins you can use,es. like Gravity Forms or Caldera Forms. I’ve even seen people use services such as Survey Monkey to collect such information.

The idea is to generate interest – to get people talking and responding to your post. When you start the conversation, you become a resource.

I hope that listening to Be Seen Blogging has helped you to become that resource – whether to your readers or to your team. I’m Jen Miller and I’m excited to share tidbits of what I do everyday with you, all in under 10 minutes. Please review the iTunes and let me know that I am adding value for you. Thank you. Talk to you next week!

Understand the tie between blogging and eCommerce website sales in this interview with Scott Buscemi, founder of Luminary, an eCommerce agency based in Los Angeles.

Transcript:

Hi, welcome to Be Seen Blogging. I’m your host, Jen Miller, and today’s episode #14 Will Blogging Boost my eCommerce WebsIte Sales? includes blogging ideas that go beyond eCommerce so listen in even if you don’t have a shop yourself! I’ve had some calls recently about whether there is value to adding blog posts to an eCommerce website. Intrinsically I’m sure you already know the answer is yes, but I thought it might be helpful to explain why to anyone who might be wondering this same thing… and point you in the direction of where you can get more advice.

So on today’s show I’m going to run through some reasons why you need to be blogging on your eCommerce site and then you’ll get to listen in on a conversation I recently had with Scott Buscemi, founder of Luminary, an eCommerce consultancy company in Los Angeles.

So, first off, let’s go to the why of blogging on an eCommerce site.

The number one reason is you need traffic to your site and blog posts engage potential customers.

The number two reason is your competition is probably not taking the time to do it!

The third reason is that the basics of search engine optimization or SEO are that you need to add keywords into your site so that search engines know what it is about.

Your blog is a natural way to do this. Each blog post builds your site with a new page that will be indexed and categorized by topic, plus other vendors and customers may link to your posts or share them, further enhancing the ROI for that blog post.

Need ideas on topics for your eCommerce blog?

Write on a challenge your readers face or answer a question you’ve been asked by one of your customers. Don’t be afraid to get personal about how you may have experienced something similar – readers love to share in your experience!

Speaking of this, a behind the scenes post is always fun – for you and your reader! Disclose secrets about your business, specific products or the industry at large. Include a video of your warehouse or employees packaging a box to be mailed with care. Use this type of post to get personal.

Tell recent client testimonials and your reaction or response to getting them – again this adds a human touch to your eCommerce shop, as do tutorials on how to use your products, which show you care.
Reveal how you got started and what changes your business has made over however many years to better serve your clients. This is an excellent post to write when you are rolling out new systems to make the customer experience better.

Sharing yourself or your team in your blog posts builds trust in your company. It gives people more to hold on to than “Fast Shipping” or “high quality,” it makes your business real and it gives people and publications a reason to repeat your story and will eCommerce repeats, whether they are sales or visitors is always a bonus!
With that in mind let’s turn to Scott Buscemi, an eCommerce consultant who focuses on helping clients build their brands on the web and recognizes the importance of being human in eCommerce and business.

Everyone like to be a star and that is the goal when you write profiles as posts. In doing so you create content that will be shared well beyond your own website!

Transcript:

Hi! Welcome to Been Seen Blogging, the podcast that gives you tips and tricks to make your blog more effective, in under than 10 minutes. I’m your host, Jen Miller and I’m excited to see that you tuned in today. In our last 2 episodes of Be Seen Blogging I discussed the importance of 2 specific blog post types, the how to post and the listicle. Today we’ll be discussing a 3rd type, one that I often suggest for locally based businesses and individuals, known as Profiles as Posts.

Every blog and website has its own feel and audience, so engagement can often depend on the type of post you write.

If you write as a national figure or company, posts based on locality may not apply unless you are writing about a trending news topic in a specific community. However if you write for a business that relies on readers in a certain community, you’ll have more success in making connections with potential users of your service when you localize your posts. An added benefit to this is that many search engine algorithms favor searches based on area, allowing you to rank better in your community for keywords that are relevant to local search. So if your business and customers are in Flower Mound, Texas, your posts should mention it!

One way we help our clients do this is through profile posts. We research and/or interview people and places in their community and write about them on the blog.

We generally focus on unusual or well-loved businesses or people, a trending cafe or politician, a distinguished teacher or favorite museum or a business that is having an event for the entire community.

There are a few reasons why this type of post is successful – it’s local and familiar, it’s relatable and interesting and it’s extremely shareable.

The first reason is that its familiar – readers recognize the name of a restaurant, business or local leader in the headline and pause to click to read more. This is a technique that community publications often use to get people talking and you can use it too! Focus on showing what the business or person being profiled is like rather than providing a narrative by involving the senses: sight, touch, smell, hearing and taste in your post. The more your reader identifies with, the longer they will engage in the post and the more they will connect with the website in general.

The second is that is relatable. If you find the topic interesting, chances are other people will too. If the person or place you are writing about recently had an event that is newsworthy, play that up as well. When possible, get additional perspectives and quotes to add depth to your post.

The third reason that this type of post is a success is that it is interesting and sharable. The goal of the post is to paint your subject using words. You want to share the essence of who or what you are writing about. If it’s a local business, show their involvement in the community or how their unique method redefines an industry. If it’s restaurant, share specific menu favorites and discuss the ambiance and mood of the environment and level of service.Discover what motivates the person or business owner to operate in that particular town. All of these create an interesting post that begs to be shared visually on the blog, in social media and by word of mouth.

At the beginning of this podcast I mentioned research. Use community guides and reviews to find topics of interest if they are not readily obvious. Ask friends about some of their favorite local venues or people they would like to know more about. Do your background research and then follow up with questions. Oftentimes you’ll make friends with the subject of your posts simply because they are excited that you already know something about them.

Through my lifetime I’ve had opportunity to interview many people – from the local grocery store owner to world leaders – and each has an inspiring story to tell. The interview is all about asking the right initial questions and then really listening to the answers and creating a conversation that builds on them. The post is about pulling the best parts out and really highlighting the individual or company in an unusual way and tone that tells their story. It’s all about the details.

I’ve been told time and time again that I ask really good questions. And maybe it’s true, because I do prepare for interviews by considering why I am writing the story and who will be reading it. But honestly I think that what is seen as me asking good questions is more of a development of conversation. My initial questions may be written down by they are only a guide to watch the story unfold. Every interviewer needs to be able to modify and transition through topics and that is a skill you will gain as you continue to write profile posts. Be careful to wait for the answer and to listen and ask rather than summarize – that’s when you get the best material for your story.

Here are some questions to consider as guidelines to get you started:

• How did you get started?
• Were there specific qualifications needed?
• Before doing this, what did you do?
• How do you see your role in the community?
• What do you value most in life?
• What would you say your greatest challenge/success has been?
• Where do you see yourself/your business in 5 years?
• To whom do you owe your success?
• What should we have talked about today that didn’t come up?

In my experience those questions lead to many more and produce stories worth telling. Please let me know if you have questions that you like to use when interviewing. You can reach me on Twitter at Jenblogs4u or through my website at NeedSomeoneToBlog.com. I hope you found today’s Be Seen Blogging podcast on profiles as posts worthwhile and look forwarding to hearing from you! Talk to you next week!

In the need for quick content, look no further than listicles! A top 10 or longer list is quick to pull people in, especially when written on a topic that grabs interest. Have fun with these posts and you’ll find they add very valuable content to your website.

Transcript:

Hi, I’m Jen Miller host of Be Seen Blogging, the podcast where you get ideas, tips and tricks on ways to improve your website content in under 10 minutes. On today’s episode #12, entitled, Quick Content – the Value of Listicles, we’ll be looking into why it’s important to include list-focused blog posts on your website and the basics of pulling them together.

Commonly referred to as listicles, a list based blog post typically presents text and images in either a numbered or bullet point style. Lists make learning easy. I remember the numbered spelling texts I had to take as a kid. If you’re anything like me you did great when the teacher read the words in the numbered list on the test – having those numbers helped me to order and remember the spelling. When I had teachers who liked to mix the order up, it was definitely more challenging to take those tests. Our brains like order and lists draw upon that to help organize content so that it makes sense and helps the reader feel comfortable.

You’ll see listicles on sites like Buzzfeed or Mashable and I’m sure you’ll remember the Top Ten lists from David Letterman and the Late Show way back when. Many authors use lists to create an outline as they write books. Lists can be used on every platform to help engage an audience and really, they should be included on every website, including yours!

It’s a fun trend and a form of content that is easy to read, remember, quote and share. Many listicles are opinion based as their point is to entertain. I’d suggest you focus on making your list oriented posts funny and accurate so that they show personality while still building your authority. Often times you’ll find that your lists may write themselves and if so, use that extra time to find just the right add-ins (images, videos, sub headings and amusing gifs) to deliver more punch to your piece.

Here are some other tips to follow when pulling together your listicle:

Make your headline fun. Use it to draw attention. The goal is to bring the spotlight to your list so choosing a funny, questionable and universal topic is important and must be highlighted in the title. Use a number in your title. I find that odd numbers seem to attract more visitors.

There are numbers that are more attractive than others so choose one that seems to fit your audience.

I remember when I first started in website project management. As part of the service, I would need to set up social media accounts. Often I wouldn’t know the client’s personal information and one day I asked my sister, how should handle entering birthdates – every channel wants them? She thought for a moment and then said 29. Jen, she said, everyone wants to be 29 so just subtract that from the current year and use today’s date. We laughed and I implemented that strategy. Numbers are important to people, so use them!

Number your listicle to make it easier for people to reference your points and remember how many you had. If you number your lists, it makes long form content seem more snackable. Rather than leaving the post because the length seems overwhelming, readers can scan it and read the numbers that they are most interested in and then bookmark it to return. And, if you make the commitment to go long on the post, then make sure you have plenty to offer. A long form list should have at least 33 points to call upon, while a short form post can be kept to under 7.

Visuals such as gifs and videos can be used to break up your content and really they can deliver the point much in most cases and related quotes can add flavor to your post too.

Linton Weeks NPR article 10 Reasons Why We Love Making Lists broke down why lists are so enticing to us as humans. His article was of course, in a list format – so I wanted to share it with you.

1. Lists bring order to chaos.
2. Lists help us remember things
3. Most lists are finite.
4. Lists can be meaningful.
5. Lists can be as long or as short as necessary.
6. Making lists can help make you famous. He noted that Benjamin will long be remembered for his lists.
7. The word “list” can be tracked back to William Shakespeare, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
8. Lists relieve stress and focus the mind.
9. Lists can force people to say revealing things.
10. Lists can keep us from procrastinating.

So with that in mind, it’s time to make your own list. What topics should you feature in your listical posts on your blog? Thank you for tuning in to today’s podcast. I’d love to know your thoughts! Please reach out to me on Twitter @jenblogs4u, through my website at NeedSomeoneToBlog.com or by leaving a review at iTunes or Stitcher. Talk to you next week!

Make more friends through how to blog posts. People love the DIY approach and giving away your “secrets” allows you to create sharable content.

Transcript:

Hello and welcome to another episode of Be Seen Blogging! I’m Jen Miller and today, on Episode #11,we are going to be talking about Sharable content starts with how to blog posts. Time and time again I see the value of how to blog posts. You’ll promote all the content you write, but some of it, particularly how to posts, if done right get shared by others and build you as an authority in your industry.

I’m sure you’ve seen your share of cooking, exercise and makeup tutorial videos while scrolling through your Facebook feed. These videos appeal to universal concerns : food, travel, beauty and fitness using a very engaging method – the how to story!

You can do this on your blog too! It’s as simple as giving directions to your home and reminiscent of the 3rd grade homework assignment where you had to explain how to make a peanut butter sandwich. You can keep your instruction pretty basic or get a little more creative with it but either way your writing needs to answer the question of how to.

The how-to blog post is sequence and Order based, answering the question of What takes place next? The key is to quickly write out the steps needed and then go back and develop each step into a mini story.

First off you choose a topic for your post. Your subject needs to be specific,interesting, and answer a question. For instance a blog post for an animal hospital might include the topic of how to walk your dog.

To make it more unusual and still address a need, the post might be changed to how to walk your dog in the rain. The power is in the modifier. As the post is written any ideas should be included, even those that seem silly or mundane. Consider the how, the who and the why. Think about the stress points and the possibilities. The goal at this point is to give as much information as possible.The editing will come later.

Next you need to review what you’ve written while thinking about your reader. Think about where they are located, what life experience they have, whether they have one or multiple dogs and what breed they are.

Determine why or where they would be reading the post. A dog walk on a drizzly day in Southern California is going to look very different from a dog walk in a blustery Boston storm.When thinking like your reader you are bound to have more questions which leads to the next part of your post which will bring you to your research.

Find trending or obscure quotes and statistics on related topics. Tell a personal story or retell a relatable one from a movie or book. In the case of dog walking, suggest local places to check out. If you introduced a new concept, provide the definition, explain what it is or share resources so the reader can go deeper on the topic. Consider what images or video you may use to augment the post.

Interview several people with insight on the topic. When writing about rainy dog walking, an interview with a veterinarian, pet owner and pet supplier could all be in order and add an interesting twist to your story.

Whenever you write remember to include descriptive details. Polka dotted rain boots or a bright yellow umbrella perfectly matched to your golden retriever add life to the post and draw your reader in. Use your words to paint a picture within your post. When you can see your post unfold, you’ll know you are on the right track.

Evaluate that you’ve covered every step so that your post describes your directions with precision and explains necessary actions before publishing your post. Use bolder headings and bullets to make the steps easy to follow and understand. Review the supplies needed and make sure none were left out. If it makes sense use directive words such as first, next, then and finally. Then wrap it up and share it as we’ve talked about in other episodes.

Thank you for tuning in to Be Seen Blogging today. I hope you enjoyed the show and have a better feel for how you can write a how to blog post! If you have questions, please reach out to me on Twitter @jenblogs4u or through my website NeedSomeoneToBlog.com. Talk to you next week!

Explore ways to enhance your website and blog conversion by establishing key performance indicators or blogging KPIs. Determine, measure and write the blog posts that will best engage your readers and deliver the answers and results they seek.

Transcript:

Hi and welcome to episode #10 of Be Seen Blogging. I’m your host, Jen Miller and I’ll be sharing with you what blogging KPIs are and how you can measure them to enhance conversion on your website. Whether you are just starting out or have a seasoned audience, I hope you find this information will help you in a very real way.

When evaluating the performance of a blog we often review KPIs or key performance indicators. Items such as the number of views or the amount of click throughs are important. However measuring the number of likes or shares and retweets and seeing if the visitors were returning or new and their level of engagement – did they stop at one post of travel through the website are all critical factors to determining your success.

Most bloggers are more concerned about telling a story and drawing in the reader with a well-composed post. However if you are trying to make money on your website you need to create some actionable deliverables or goals referred to in the sale world as KPIs.

I think KPIs should always be attached to a value. One might be to increase monthly sales by 20%. To reach this goal or KPI you may want to include more frequent and specific posts with a visual call to action linked to a particular product. You might increase your posting in social media or your ad spend. Regardless of how you choose to create or share content, when you attach a “how” to “anticipated growth,” you set up indicators that show if your plan is working.

Obvious ways to know you have a working plan are increases in conversion. If you start blogging and posting to social media and they notice an uptake in sales, you don’t have to stop taking orders to run a report. Look at the metrics as you have time and keep doing what you’re doing! When discussing the trends with your marketing team or investors, you’ll be able to fall back on the statistics and see exactly where and why the increase occurred – that’s the beauty of setting up metrics before you get started.

Throughout the designated time period you will need to monitor the following as these are the real indicators that show how your goal was reached.

Look for traffic growth and spikes and see when and how they were caused.

Your reporting will show whether you are seeing new vs existing users. If the bulk of your reader base is returning, then you need to be sharing your posts to a new audience. We all love return readers but the trick is to widen that base with every piece of content.

Monitor how and when the reader came to your site. This gives you a good read of the best times to post. And if you are running a Facebook or Twitter campaign and find that you have no hits to your site when the campaign is active, you’ll be able to decipher that perhaps that is not the best use of funds.

How long are your readers staying on your site, what pages are readers visiting and are they traveling to multiple pages?

Are they subscribing or requesting more info?

Perhaps you find that they are using your site search and having that result in a purchase.

If you have affiliate links are they leaving your site to go to those sites?

Are your viewers reading about a product and moving on to checkout or signup and then stopping before completing the sale or booking an appointment?

All of these are items to review and consider as you analyze your key performance indicators, the numbers that show whether or not your blog posts are effective.

When setting up KPIs, make sure they fit your overall goals as a company – for a Realtor that may mean more home value requests. For an eCommerce site that could mean higher cart values and completed checkouts. For a doctors office, it could be more online appointments scheduled.

You get it, every business has to define their own KPIs, whether devised by a sole proprietor or a management team and explained to every team member. Targeted KPIs can be tracked even better when team members understand and are on-board, because even if the customer starts on the website, they may decide to pick up the phone instead of finishing the transaction online. This is especially true with larger priced items, such as travel or vehicle purchases. When too many clicks and decisions are required, a reader may skip the cart hoping to connect in person.

And that is okay. After all the entire reason you are blogging in the first place is to engage and connect, so you can share the value of your service or product. Sometimes the true KPI is the voice on the other end of the phone, smiling as you ease them through their purchase. Just make sure you record the call as a website win if it started there so your metrics will be accurate.

Thank you for listening in to Be Seen Blogging, episode #10 where we discussed Blogging KPIs and what they mean, all in under 10 minutes. If you are enjoying this podcast, please review it on iTunes or Stitcher and share it with your friends. You can reach me Jen Miller on Twitter @jenblogs4u or through my Need Someone To Blog website. I look forward to answering questions you may have in future episodes. Talk to you next week!

Change your life and your website posting frequency by using a content calendar. A reminder and tool for ideas, you’ll find that setting time aside to plan makes a world of difference to your website content.

Transcript:

Hello and welcome to another episode of Be Seen Blogging! I’m Jen Miller and today on episode #9 of Be Seen Blogging we will discuss Post Strategizing – Do You Need a Content Calendar?

Everyday I reference my calendar online so I can remember appointments and activities made previously. From conferences to client calls and family activities, my calendar keeps me on track. It is my daily reference tool for my overall schedule and although is subject to change at any given moment, provides structure and an outline of what I should expect every day.

The same is true for a content calendar! It is a tool that outlines the basics – the must posts, the scheduled topic posts and the fun opportunities. Some people keep their content calendar pretty simple, writing a topic based outline, filling in words on a paper calendar, while others create headlines and determine keywords to be used in a digital spreadsheet format. Many use a combination of these.

Really quickly let’s talk about 8 ways a content calendar helps.
It solidifies idea as a place to record your brainstorming.
It assists you in matching articles to specific dates such as holidays and product releases.
A content calendar allows you the time to create, commission or research connected material for your post, making your content even more valuable with coordinated artwork, statistics or specific quotes. Having a date gives you a deadline – a key in the creative world.
It helps you gauge audience response – when you review your website and social media analytics alongside past calendars you’ll see content trends.
A content calendar manages guest and team posting efforts and keeps everyone accountable and on board.
It eases the stress of needing to publish posts TODAy!
And, a content calendar provides an overview so you can coordinate your overall website and social media marketing efforts.

The underlying goal of a content calendar is to get you organized!

I like using an online blogging calendar for this purpose, but I know plenty of people who find that “seeing” post topics on a paper calendar is very helpful. Post-it type notes in several colors can be an effective way of seeing topic rotation at a glance.

If you are a beginning blogger I strongly suggest limiting your blogging calendar to four to five categories so you can rotate through those as you start. Assign a color for each topic and place the colors on the days you want to blog. That way you can easily see at a glance on your desk if you’re using a paper calendar or on your online blogging calendar what your post should be on. One of the reasons I use an online calendar is because it allows me to set alarms and reminders of when posts are due,

Use the scheduling feature on your blogging calendar and make your first goal to write two weeks worth of general safe blog posts based on the topics you’ve outlines. I set notifications on my calendar so I am reminded via text message and email as posts are due. You can do this too! You’ll find that once you have done this, you will be able to stay ahead of the game when your weekly schedule begins.

So let’s get back to the question posed at the beginning of today’s podcast, Do you need a content calendar? For me the answer is yes… and it must be digital. I’ve used plenty of project management apps and reminder services to ensure that my posts get written. And they work well for me, most of the time. For you, something else may keep you on track.

I’d love to know what it is! Please drop me a line at jenmiller@needsomeonetoblog.com or tweet me at jenblogs4u and share what works for you. Thank you for tuning in to Be Seen Blogging, the podcast which gives you tips you can use in everyday posts, all in under 10 minutes! See you next week!

Copywriter and Blogger Jen Miller shares how she found her voice as a writer and explains that you must share your voice as a writer. Taking care to explain the difference between industry jargon and words that readers understand, Jen delivers tips and stories that speak to content marketers and business owners alike, all in under 10 minutes.

Transcript:

Hello and welcome to Be Seen Blogging! I’m Jen Miller and on today’s episode, Episode #8, we will be discussing How To Share Your Voice as a Writer. I’ve been in the content business as a journalist, copywriter, website builder, and blogger and have insight to share with you that will bring you traffic, help you to engage your site visitors and increase your goal conversion.

As I mentioned a minute ago, today we are going to talk a little more about writing like you speak. As an online content producer, it is especially imperative that what you write sounds like you. Your tone or voice is why readers will be returning to your website.

If you were asked to present at an academic conference, you probably would use different words than if you were speaking at a pep rally. If you were having lunch with friends you would talk differently than if you were being reviewed by your employer. Different occasions require us to adapt and present different although authentic sides of ourselves.

The same is true when writing.

When I blog as an accountant, my writing voice is very different from the one I use for an outgoing real estate broker or public speaker. If I am blogging as a construction contractor or pest control company, I use different words that I would use when writing as a classical musician or photographer. Each profession, each individual has their own, very unique voice.

Have you found your voice? I found my personal writing voice when I was 18 years old and really have not deviated from it since. I remember the day well. I had been pulled off the police beat to write a community “fluff” piece on a local salon. It was challenging because my story had to have heart, not just the facts. It was very different from the writing I had done up to that point. I really struggled with it. It seemed that everything I came up with was just too dry.

I consulted with my editors and writing friends and each shared tips, but when the publisher suggested I just write as I speak, I had an a-ha moment. Suddenly I knew what to do.

I started writing about how the business was run by people devoted to the community, I shared who they were and what really stood out as important to me about what they did. I interviewed some of their clients to gain their perspective. I thought about the dedication it took to launch a family business and the little known facts that had been shared with me as I toured the establishment. I found the heart of the story as I started writing as if I were explaining my experience to a good friend. I didn’t realize it then, but that story helped me to establish my voice.

Now when I write for other people, I place myself in their perspective, and use phrases I know or believe they would use. I look for details and ways to delve deep into the story even if the piece I am writing is only 3 paragraphs long or a tweet of 120 characters.

Sometimes writing as you speak means using the right words. As an industry professional it’s easy to get caught up in jargon and forget how “real” people speak or use search terms and keywords online. Taking a step back and thinking like your client can go a long way.

Ask yourself: Do my clients understand my words? Am I using “industry speak” on my website or search terms and keywords that my clients would use? Is my communication clear?
I had an experience a couple of years ago that drove the point home for me and made me realize that even I, as “master” blogger, needed to rethink my communication skills.

I was “Share Day” at my son’s school. He was frantically trying to decide what to bring. “It has to be something that is really hard to guess,” he said. “And colorful, but not an Easter egg. That was too easy last week, Mom.” I scanned my desk recalling the horror he expressed at his previous week’s experience of having his share guessed on the first try.

Trying to help, I held my tape holder. I suggested, “You can share my tape dispenser…” knowing it would be hard to pass up since it’s shaped like a shoe and not a typical item. It is also something he normally was prohibited from using.

Instantly he reached for it and said, “Mom, it’s not just for Spencer. It’s to share with the whole class!”

I was puzzled for a second and then realized he had misheard me. What he heard was, “You can share my tape to Spencer.” But what I had said was, “You can share my tape dispenser.”

He heard “to Spencer” because those were the words he recognized. He was translating my phrase into words and meanings that he understood.

As you blog you have to be clear and make sure your clients understand the meaning of your words as you share your voice.

When Hurricane Sandy hit the eastern seaboard, I had several blogging clients who went without power, fuel, and food in the aftermath of the storm. I was shocked to receive several 3 minute calls via cell phones that helped me understand what to post on their blogs even though I was 3,000 miles away. The distress and gratitude evident in my clients’ voices needed to be expressed on their blogs. The coming together they witnessed in their communities needed to be documented. The story of triumph in trying circumstances needed to be shared. It was a challenge and an exercise in empathy for me. Those posts helped me to gain a new, almost desperate, descriptive writing voice and I jumped at the opportunity.

Now you have the opportunity to determine your voice. What will it sound like? Will is be sassy or smart, polished or edgey? Perhaps you find you lean more towards an arrogant or clever tone or prefer to stick to the basic facts with a little editorial thrown in. Maybe you have a naturally sweet, unassuming voice or are quick to compliment and reassure. These qualities need to be seen in the content you produce.

You may find that your voice is a mix of all of these. 😉 If so, send me an email. We always need writers who can change up their voice easily at NeedSomeoneToBlog.

Typically though, you’ll notice that your writing takes on a certain feel, which I refer to as your voice. It may evolve in time, but the undertones will remain the same. Your true voice will be amplified in the words you compose and you will realize that writing can be a very powerful tool for conveying your thoughts, when you write like you speak.

Need more insight in how you can be seen blogging, listen to more podcast episodes or reach out to me Jen Miller on Twitter @jenblogs4u or on the web at Needsomeonetoblog.com. Thank you for tuning in! I’m looking forward to talking with you soon!

Does Size Matter in a Blog Post? Absolutely. Business Blogger Jen Miller explains when and why word count varies in blog posts and how it can make a difference in how a website performs. Learn how to better manage your blogging and website content, all in under 10 minutes.

Hi, It’s Jen Miller and on Today’s show, episode #7 of be seen blogging, we’re talking about Long Posts vs. Short Posts – The Performance Test. As someone who has been producing website content for over a decade, I have some definite opinions on what works well.

I mainly write for other people, on their business or leadership blogs, so incorporate a variety of styles and lengths and I really feel the key is in setting the right tone. If you have an engaging style, people will enjoy reading your posts and return, regardless of the length. However since it’s a question I do get often, I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the topic of word count.

Before getting too deep on the word count question there are a few things you should know. One is that Readers may visit your website at any time. The second is that Search engines will likely crawl the site every 3-5 days. This means that consistent blog posting wins, regardless of length. Posting twice per week generally ensures that viewers AND search engines will have something new when they visit your website and that keeps both coming back.

For many of our clients our goal is to deliver twice weekly posts to keep their website current.Each post needs to be optimized with at least one keyword phrase to define the topic so it can be recognized by both the reader and the search engines and I like posts to be at least 200 words. On the internet you’ll see many sites with posts that are 10x that length but you’ll also see others like Seth Godin who regularly publishes blog posts under 100 words, that perform well, too. The point in a blog post is to use your words to deliver your message, however many words that message requires.

The benefit to a longer post is that you can use more words to clarify and explain, share case studies or use outside material and quotes. A longer post also supports the use of more images which can enhance engagement. If long articles highlight research, they can be highly valuable. When a post is long simply to fill the page for the sake of word count, that is a mistake. Many website visitors read posts and pages on mobile devices and higher bounce rates can occur when the length of the post material doesn’t justify the content. I’ve heard colleagues mention that they skim or only read the block quotes on posts. Both of those tendencies mean your readers leave your site at a speedy rate and most likely are not digesting the content on your site. I’ve found that emails actually get more clicks than longer blog posts, making me believe that the inbox is actually the best place for long form content.

On the other hand a shorter post may tease information, leading to a viewer seeking more posts on similar topics. Shorter posts can result in more contact form inquiries, too, as readers want details. Shorter posts also look great with video embeds so can be a great way to show yourself speaking to your audience or sharing something related that you found valuable.

Another benefit of a shorter post is for the writer. Exhausting a topic in one blog post can make it hard to write a follow up piece but when you introduce individual concepts in a series of posts (simply by breaking up the same content), you produce more posts and allow each to energize the rest. Plus, let’s face it, our society is used to quick thinking and response. We’ve been trained to have shorter attention spans, accept more interruptions, and read on our devices. All of these drive up the appeal of shorter content.

If you look towards traditional media, you’ll see a mix of long and short form articles. When I send news releases to newspapers and magazines, the recommendation from editors is to keep it to less than 350 words and typically I see 150 word releases get published in their entirety. You’ll also notice that images matter in these publications, sometimes sharing way more of the story than the written words do.

Your posts should ultimately be a mix of long and short content,as well. They should reflect you and what your message requires. Share your passion and deliver valuable, actionable information. Use bullet points, block text and headings so that even if your post is long it doesn’t FEEL that way. Read through your post out loud and think about what is redundant or if you are missing a key point. If your post takes longer than 5 minutes to read, consider how you might be able to shorten it up while still delivering the same thoughts or if the series concept I shared makes sense for that post.

Keep your headlines short, too – under 7 words seems to work best for me. Get clever with how you introduce each post to create titles that really introduce the topic and have fun.

Blogging is about self expression, using your voice to share what you know. Yes, it’s work and it requires consistency, but ultimately it really is fun. So mix it up, using a variety of sizes and don’t worry too much about long posts vs short posts. The answer is that all are important!

I’m Jen Miller and I’ve enjoyed sharing with you today on Be Seen Blogging. Please let me know your questions at NeedSomeoneToBlog.com or reach out to me on Twitter at jenblogs4u. Like the show, I’d love to see your review. Thank you for spending part of your time today with me. Talk to you next week!