Tag Archives: blog

Blog Comments For Beginners

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So you’ve created your blog and you’ve written your first posts. All you have to do now is sit back and wait for the readers to come, right? Wrong! Despite having been made famous by the movie “Field of Dreams,” the idea that you can build it and they will come just doesn’t work. This is true about any endeavor, not just blogging. People need to find out about you, and they need to get involved.

Over the next few weeks, we’re shifting focus from creating blog content to engaging readers and growing a following. As we go through this process, you’ll begin to see the unique characteristics of Web 2.0 coming to life. We’ll begin with blog comments.

What Are Blog Comments?

As we pointed out in an earlier post, as technology has changed, so has the way we communicate. I remember my summer camp days way back when. I used to send letters to friends and family to let them know that I was at camp for 3 weeks and I’d ask them to write to me. Admittedly, it was a simple ploy to get some attention as a kid–but it worked. My friends and family always sent me letters in return. Excited, I would respond immediately with a post card of my own. Before I knew it, I had a  dialogue going. Every day at mail call there was either a letter or a package waiting for me. Of course, I would always share the candy, cookies, and other goodies I received, which helped me make instant friends, a side benefit I hadn’t anticipated but that I was grateful for.

My fellow campers wanted to know how I managed to always have so much mail waiting for me. My secret was simple. I wrote as many letters as possible, and I always included a request for a response. In fact, I asked my friends and family to respond with a letter or a postcard RIGHT AWAY, AS SOON AS THEY GOT THIS!!! I can only imagine that my family thought it was adorable and my friends thought it was exciting and fun, so everyone got into it.

If I were a camper today, I’d probably be exchanging emails instead of letters, and text messages instead of postcards. Or maybe I’d keep a blog of my time at camp and I’d be asking for comments in response.

You see, your blog is like the letters I wrote from camp. This is where you share your thoughts, experiences, and insights. And the comments section of the blog is where people have a chance to respond to what you’ve written—and even share a few goodies of their own.

Another way to think of comments is to compare them to letters to an editor at a newspaper. Most comments are conversational reactions, such as “Thanks for the post, great information,” or “That’s what I think too!,” or “I never thought of that, thanks!” or “I agree with most of  what you said, but you forgot to mention xyz.” You can respond to the comments, and before you know it  your blog has gone from a static (Web 1.0) to an interactive (Web 2.0) platform capable of sustaining a conversation and growing a community.

Comments let you know that someone out there is reading your blog and benefitting from it. This is not only great motivation on an emotional level, it also shows that your content is going in the right direction and can help you make editorial decisions.

How Can My Readers Leave Comments?

The mechanics of how to leave a comment will depend on your blogging platform, your template, and your settings. But generally, at the bottom of each post, there is usually an area for comments. On TwoPointUhOh, this area looks like this:

Our template doesn’t automatically display the comments area, but readers can always navigate to it. The options for accessing the comments area are either at the top or bottom of each post. In our case, you can access comments from both the top and bottom of our posts.

The access from the top of the post is via a visual icon of a speech bubble. A number in the speech bubble indicates how many comments have already been left. If the speech bubble is empty, that means no one has commented yet. From within our blog post, click on the bubble to access the comment area for that post.

The access from the bottom of the post is via a link in the footer. In our case, the link asks readers to “leave a reply” if there are no comments yet. Or it says “3 comments,” if people have already left comments. Again, by clicking here, readers will be taken to the comments area. Your blog may work differently, but generally the links to the comments area will be found in the post’s header or footer.

How Do I Handle Negative Comments or Spam?

As soon as you open the door to participation, you take the risk of dealing with negativity or spam. You do have the option of turning off all comments to your blog, but if you do that, you’ll be missing out on the opportunity to enter a conversation with engaged readers.

Uh oh!

Fortunately, there is a solution, comment moderation. With this option, you will be asked to approve a comment before it goes live on your blog. If you choose to moderate comments, be aware that your readers want to see their comments on your blog. Try to approve  them quickly. Also, make sure that you don’t censor comments. It’s one thing to not publish spam or racist, sexist, and vulgar comments; it’s another not to publish and address a legitimate disagreement or criticism. If you accept comments, you’ll also need to learn to allow all opinions to be voiced.

How to Encourage Comments

  • Ask for Comments It worked for me in my letters from camp, and it will work for you. Throw the ball back in your readers’ court by asking: “What do you think?”, “Has this approach work for you?”, “Have you had a real life experience with this topic?”, or “Is there anything I forgot to add?”
  • Respond to Comments Just as you want proof that someone is reading your posts and responding to them, your readers want proof that you’ve seen their comments and appreciate them. Make an effort to respond to every comment in a timely fashion—preferably within hours, but certainly within the same day. This keeps your blog post active and dynamic and builds community. Set up your notifications to receive an email each time someone posts so you can respond quickly.
  • Be Grateful and Gracious In your response, thank the reader and let them know you appreciate their comment. Be sure to address something specific in their comment so they know you’ve actually read it. When people feel valued and heard, they will be more likely to want to keep interacting with you.
  • Handle Negative Comments Like A Pro If someone voices a complaint, don’t take it personally, and in this case, don’t answer right away. Take time to think about your response, and then answer in a positive and professional manner. It’s up to you to set the tone of the conversation. Remember, it’s hard to read all the nuances in written communications, so always assume the best of the person. Treat their comment as a sincere desire to communicate with you and answer respectfully and in a cool-headed manner. Of course, if readers get out of hand and the conversation devolves into a nasty argument, this is unacceptable. This kind of behavior is known as a “flame war,” and it’s your responsibility to resist fanning the flames and find a way to put them out. One option is to publish a comments policy, clearly stating what you will and will not accept on your blog.
  • Comment On Other Blogs If you want comments on your blog, then it’s only fair that you comment on the blogs you read! It will help you understand what readers feel and expect when they comment on your blog, and it’s another way to build community. We’ll talk more about this aspect next week, but for now  just keep in mind that the effects of blog commenting can go further than you imagine.

Now, Practice!

You’ve come to the end of this blog post. Here’s your opportunity to become more familiar with comments! Go ahead, leave us your thoughts. Are you excited by the conversational aspect of blog comments? Or does the whole thing leave you feeling overwhelmed and uneasy? Let us know!

6 Unconventional Posts to Liven Up Your Blog

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Last week, we talked about beating writer’s block and laying the groundwork for your blog using standard posts that resemble articles. For the following weeks, we’ll look at some more unconventional posts.

Today we’re covering posts that are only somewhat different to the standard article mode. They are still posts imparting information from you to your readers, but they may take a different structure or approach. You may not use these types of posts as often as standard posts, but they can certainly help liven up your blog.

1. The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Post

Whatever your business is, your clients have questions about it. I bet you hear them asking the same ones over and over again. These are the Frequently Asked Questions, or the FAQs. An FAQ page has become a standard feature on many websites, but you can include one in your blog. Or you might opt to turn each question in your FAQ list into a post of its own. Here’s a good example of how to use FAQs from the Paris-based Horton Tax Services.

2. The Should Ask Questions (SAQ) Post

Almost as often as Frequently Asked Questions, however, there are questions your clients don’t ask but you wish they would. They may not know to ask these questions. But you, as the expert, can take the opportunity to educate them. These types of questions are the Should Ask Questions, or the SAQs. If you offer a product or service that requires your first-timer client to consider a lot of different aspects, you may want to help them out with an SAQ. For example, anyone launching a business, buying a home, or designing a website for the first time doesn’t know what they don’t know. But you do! So help them out with an SAQ post. Here are some examples:

3. The Review Post

A useful review can help readers make quick decisions, saving them time and sparing them frustration. Consider including some in your post mix. For example, if you teach yoga, review some yoga props, a line of clothes, or a new book. If you’re a business coach, review time-saving business apps for the smartphone. If you travel a lot to cities your clients also frequent, review the restaurants and hotels you visit from a business traveler’s point of view. Your clients will appreciate your tips!

Here’s an example of a review from OM Yoga: Product Review: Lululemon’s “The Mat”

4. The Interview Post 

Let’s say you want to find out what other experts in your niche think about a particular topic. Why not interview them for your blog? Not only will interviewing an established expert introduce your audience to new ideas, it will also reach that expert’s fan base, increasing your blog’s exposure. Interviews don’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. Face-to-face is great, but you can also send a set of written questions to your subject, who can answer at his or her leisure. A follow-up phone or Skype call should help answer any lingering questions. That’s how Alexis conducted her interview with social media strategist Mina Zaher. Paris-based author Janet Skeslien Charles frequently interviews anglophone writers who are either living in Paris or passing through, giving readers a nice little window into the contemporary literary scene.

5. The Guest Blogger  Post

If you ever begin feeling overwhelmed by your blog and want to take a break, consider inviting  a guest blogger. This can be another expert or someone with an experience to share that would be interesting to your readers. Inviting guest bloggers is a win-win for all sides. Your guest reaches a new audience, your audience hears another perspective, and you get a break! Check out these guest posts from Elements, a web marketing and design agency.

6. The Checklist Post

Do your clients need to prepare before they come see you? For example, if we’re going to help someone with their website, we need them to provide us their website copy, their logo, the photos they want to use, and a host of other things. A checklist is a great way to help your clients prepare for working with you. You can get creative here. If you’re a yoga teacher, use a checklist to help students troubleshoot a posture. If you’re a tour guide, include a checklist of what to wear and bring on the tour. I love checklists of what to pack for a triathlon. With three sports to think about, swimming, biking, and running, there is a lot of gear to remember. If you forget the wrong thing, such as goggles for the swim portion, it can slow down your time and diminish your experience. Take it from me, checklists can be extremely handy. Even handier would be a PDF version that your readers can download.

So there you have it. Six new kinds of posts to play with for your blog. Which of these posts have you already tried? How have they worked for you?

Check back next week for even more post types!

7 Standard Blog Posts To Get Past Writer’s Block

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If you’re considering starting a blog, you’re probably wondering how you’ll ever be able to think of something interesting to write about each time you need to post. Athletes call this mental block “hitting a brick wall.” Writers call it writer’s block.

I have to admit when I first started this blog with Alexis, I thought I’d have writer’s block almost every week. I was sure I’d run out of topics or that I wouldn’t be creative enough to keep the reader’s attention.

Applying the Athlete’s Attitude to Writer’s Block

When Alexis and I met in a Parisian café last September to plan Two Point Uh Oh!, I was thinking, “What am I getting into? I coach athletes to reach their goals, not bloggers! How will I ever engage readers?”

Uh oh!

But then I remembered that I knew how to keep my own interest as an athlete. People ask me all the time how I can be such a dedicated triathlete. “Don’t you ever get bored?” they want to know. No, I don’t, because I have a strategy to stay engaged. I plan a variety of workouts, and I make sure never to do the same workout too many times in a row. I alternate between short sprints, longer workout at a steady pace, cross training, core workouts, and fun runs. The types of workouts I can do to stay interested and to keep myself from hitting the brick wall are endless.

The same strategy of alternation applies to blogs. To beat writer’s block, maintain momentum, and keep your readers engaged, you can alternate between different types of posts. Just like working out, if you mix it up, you’ll keep it more interesting for you and for your readers.

3 Categories of Posts

Over the next three weeks, we’ll be looking at 3 categories of posts:

  1. The Standard Posts In this category, you’ll find the most basic types of blog posts. You can consider these types of posts as your go-to posts. They will make up the bulk of your blog. We’ll be covering standard posts today.
  2. The Unconventional Posts This category covers types of blog posts that you might use from time to time to spice things up for your readers. We’ll cover unconventional posts next week. 
  3. Audio and Video Posts This category takes a look at how you can integrate technology to create a more immediate and personal connection with your audience. We’ll cover this in two weeks’ time.

7 Types of Standard Posts

Standard posts can be likened to what you might see in a newspaper or magazine. Taking the form of articles written from the author’s point of view, standard posts present information or ideas to the reader. While in many or even most cases, such broadcasting posts are the ideal choice, at other times they may seem somewhat limited. That’s where the unconventional posts we’ll discuss next week come in. But for now, here are 7 types of standard posts:

1. How-To or Tutorial Posts This type of post is by far the most common. Information imparted in a how-to format is the “bread and butter” of most blogs. Two Point Uh Oh! relies heavily on tutorial posts, and most businesses or blogs can probably add tutorial or how-to to their mix. This past summer, the fig tree in the back yard of my new home produced a bumper crop of figs. The only solution I could think of was to make fig jam, so I looked up a tutorial blog post on the subject and voilà… soon I had 90 jars of fig and lavender jam.

2. Definition Posts If you think your readers might have a question that begins with “what is” followed by a blank to be filled in, then you might want to consider a basic definition post. Defining your terms is a great way to ensure your readers will get the most out of your posts. We created a definition post with this post on Web 2.0.

3. Personal Story or Experience Posts People love to hear stories, especially of someone’s personal experience. A good, well-structured story with a clear point can make your post come alive for your reader. This can be especially true if you traveled the path that they are now on. For example, a yoga teacher who works with injured people might want to include some stories about her own healing journey with yoga. Other examples of great stories to share can include a from-failure-to-success story, your personal reflections and how you came to them, the lessons you’ve learned, or a story about an inspirational moment or person who changed your life. Key to this kind of post is to make sure the story is relevant to your reader. On this blog, we like to mix in a little storytelling with our tutorials, like I did in the introduction to this post.

4. Personal Opinion or Op-Ed Posts Just as many newspapers carry op-ed columns, your blog can include op-ed in its posts. Use opinion pieces to discuss something you feel strongly about, establish your expertise, and help you stand out from the crowd. Depending on your style and personality, your opinion might be presented in a way that’s balanced or bold. You may even opt to put forth an opinion that goes against the grain of your industry. The key to a personal opinion post is to make sure you know whereof you speak. If you disagree with the mainstream thinking on a particular topic, make sure to present your arguments in a logical and cohesive way. Be passionate–but don’t be all over the place. Personal opinion is not the same as a personal rant. A great example of a successful personal opinion approach is the blog Altucher Confidential by author and entrepreneur James Altucher.

5. Problem-and-Solution Posts This is another type of post that fits nicely into many small business blogs. Identify a problem your readers might have and then offer a solution. RealSimple does problem and solution articles and posts very well. Here’s a great example: How to Deal With Nuisance Neighbors

6. List Posts List posts have several advantages. First, they are a great way to get you over writer’s block. If you’re really stuck, sit down and brainstorm a top 10 tips (or top 3 or top 5) list having to do with your niche. Second, list posts organize information in a way that’s easy to skim and read. Finally, they provide catchy titles to attract readers: “The Top 3 Reasons To Visit Paris,” “The 5 Best Job Interview Tips,” “16 Ways You Can Make a Difference.” This post is an example of a list post. Here is another list post on one of my favorite topics: the best chocolate shops in Paris.

7. News, Predictions, and Trends Posts  Does your business depend on your staying on top of the latest happenings and trends? Then consider including these in your post mix. Make sure to credit original sources and include your own point of view. A good example is this post on Digital Publishing Predictions.

That should keep you busy for a while. Next week, we’ll take a look at unconventional posts for those moments when you want to give your readers something new!

Set Parameters To Stay On Top Of Your Blog

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Clock

© Photo: Dave Stokes/Flickr

We all know what it’s like to sit in front of a blank page or computer screen, trying to come up with something to say while the time just ticks away. Believe me, every blogger goes through this. To be quite honest, every other week as my turn to post rolls around, I feel I have too much to do and nothing interesting to say. Yet, every week, miracle of miracles, I sit down and I write a post.

Actually, it’s not such a miracle. Despite all the reasons I can come up with why I can’t write my post each week, there is one thing that keeps me going. It’s the fact that Mary and I sat down when we started blogging and set some parameters.

We’ve already touched a bit on how to personalize your blog’s focus, and we’ll be covering content in greater depth soon, so I won’t address what to write about here. Instead,  let’s look at some of the other essential decisions you’ll need to make at the outset:

Frequency of posts: 

There are many theories about how often you should post if you want to grow a very large audience, but my philosophy is you won’t grow ANY audience if you quit! When we started Two Point Uh Oh!, we decided on one post a week, or two posts a month for each of us. We felt this was a commitment we could keep no matter how busy we were. Even though this still seems too much at times, having made the commitment keeps us on track.

Be ambitious while also remaining realistic about your resources of time and energy. Start with what you can manage, get the feel for blogging, and then grow from there if you feel the need.

Length of posts: 

Free coiled tape measure healthy living stock photo Creative Commons

©Photo: D Sharon Pruitt/Flickr

You’ll find as many opinions about the length of posts as you will about the frequency. As far as I’m concerned, the length of posts depends on two things: your natural inclination, and your audience.

For example, we’re pressed for time and our audience learns better if we deliver focused posts. Therefore, our guiding principle on Two Point Uh Oh! is “long enough to be thorough, but short enough to be digestible,” a rule of thumb that fits our needs and the needs of our readers.

If you’re a writer or a historian, you might love writing in-depth essays, and your audience will probably appreciate an involved discussion. If you’re a photographer or a designer, you might be better with images than words. If that’s the case, post a photo with just a line or two of text. Your visually-oriented audience will love you for it!

The best way to stick with blogging is to make sure your blog fits who you are while also serving your audience. With a little experimentation, you’ll find the right length for you.

Posting Calendar:

Mary and I make sure to discuss the topics we want to cover, and we establish a blogging calendar a few weeks in advance. We know, for example, that our series on blogging will run at least another two posts. As I write this, I know that we’ll be covering how to find topics and create a calendar in a couple of weeks. Knowing what we have on our calendar helps me in the writing of this current post by allowing me to cover less information in greater depth.

Tone:

Every blog has its tone. I’d call our tone “information through storytelling.” It’s a tone that suits the blog and fits our personalities. It’s authentic to who we are and it’s in alignment with what we’re trying to accomplish.

You, too, have a unique voice, a personality. Your readers want to see that you’re a real person who can speak to them in a natural voice. If you can find a tone that is professional, natural to you, and in alignment with your content, the actual writing will become much easier. All the blogs we’ve mentioned in previous posts are great examples of authentic tone. Study them if you want to get a better feel for tone. (Click on the “Blogs” category link in the right sidebar to access the posts.)

Delivering Value

When you first start blogging, you might be tempted to look for a quick return on your time investment. When is that first client going to contact you? When will more business walk in through the door?

As we saw with every blog example we’ve looked at so far, a good blog isn’t about what it gets–it’s about what it gives.

Stay focused on what you’re giving your readers. Make sure you’re delivering immediate value. This could be useful information, a new perspective, or simply a beautiful image or a light moment to brighten your readers’ day. You’d like your readers to come back to your blog frequently, wouldn’t you? Then give them reason to want to!

Blogs Aren’t Built in a Day

Construction site Masshouse Lane / Albert Street - Construction site Keep out - sign Finally, manage your expectations. I’m not going to lie to you and tell you blogging is easy, or that you can do it in twenty minutes. Blogging takes planning, and it requires work. Building a readership is a lengthy process, and seeing a return will take some time. If you set your parameters and stick with them, you’ll see that blogging will become easier–or at least more of a reflex. You’ll also start to have small successes, such as the first time a reader posts a comment or your blog or someone compliments you on a post, and that will encourage you to continue. Once we start covering social media, you’ll see how the content of your blog will become a powerful tool to help you build your network and your expertise. So stick with blogging–and stay tuned for more!

To Blog or Not To Blog, Part II – Getting Started

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In previous posts, we covered some reasons why you might want to blog, we learned more about the process from a social media strategist, and we discussed how to name a blog. Hopefully you now see how letting your audience get to know you through a blog builds community and trust, establishes you as an expert, and benefits your business. Today we’re going to cover how to begin.

3 Things to Understand Before You Start Blogging

1. Understand why you’re blogging. 
There are many reasons to blog as a small business owner, such as making yourself visible, establishing your expertise, providing value, engaging your readers, building community, attracting clients, and ultimately making money. But if you’re just starting to build your online presence, step one is to engage your readers by providing value. During the first few weeks or months in the life of most blogs, the traffic is quite light and the readers are few. A small readership allows you to try things out and see what your audience responds to. Since it’ll take some time to get a feel for blogging, this is actually good news and should alleviate some of the pressure you might be feeling. It’s OK to start slow and experiment!

2. Understand who you’re addressing.
It’s important to know the audience you’re targeting. Sometimes the target audience for the content of your blog and the people you’re trying to reach on a business level are the same, and sometimes they’re slightly different. To make this clearer, let’s contrast two examples:

Heather Stimmler-Hall, the author of Secrets of Paris, is a travel writer and Paris specialist who arranges private, guided tours of Paris. Her blog is targeted to Paris lovers who want to discover the hidden side of the City of Light. In her case, her target audience and her potential clients are one and the same.

The Interpreter Diaries is written by a conference interpreter and trainer. It’s targeted to future and current students of interpreting and to newly qualified interpreters. The author is providing a fantastic service that has made her visible in the broader interpreting community. When it comes to new work offers, however, it’s not the students and new interpreters who reach out to her, it’s the institutions they train and work in.

The approach you choose for your own blog will depend on your long-term goals, your industry, and your competitors.

3. Understand what your competitors are already doing.
Some sectors are already inundated with bloggers. The web and social media sector is a great example. A simple Google search will return hundreds of blogs on the topic. But when we searched to find blogs targeted to newbies, we were surprised that we couldn’t find any that met our standards! There’s lots of great information out there, but most of it soon gets too complex for the true beginner. We saw an opportunity to take a unique perspective, to put our storytelling and teaching skills to good use, and to provide value to the ongoing conversation.

Another great example is novelist Timothy Jay Smith’s blog, targeted to lovers of writing and good literature. Tim loves thinking about the writing process, but when he saw how many blogs already cover this topic, he decided to personalize his focus. Having had an exceptional career working in over forty countries and traveling in another sixty simply for pleasure, Timothy realized the stories he writes and cares about have grown from the places he’s been and the people he’s met. Now, he writes about those experiences and how they inspired his work, including his newly-released novel, “Cooper’s Promise.”

If the subject you want to blog about is already covered, there’s no need to be discouraged. Instead, find an opportunity to showcase your unique point of view and your specialty.

Next Steps:

Look at all the blog examples we mentioned here and in earlier posts, and spend some time researching already existing blogs in your sector. Make a list of what you like and what you don’t like, and begin to get a sense of what you might want to include in your own blog. Try to determine the subject you’ll cover and the slant you’ll take, and begin to think about who your target audience is. We’ll dig deeper in the blogging how-tos over the next few weeks!