Business Blogging - Low Cost and High Returns

It’s great to see the The New York Times report on the benefits of blogging - especially for small or mid-sized businesses. They say blogging is a “low-cost, high-return tool.”

It’s not just for small businesses though - Google probably has more blogs than any other business I know. They seem to create one for just about every product they have. Blogs are ideal for encouraging word of mouth marketing (see my post about word of mouth marketing on Marketing Pilgrim) by giving people reasons to keep talking about your businesses.

Even if you don’t blog, you should be sending your news releases to bloggers in hopes they’ll write about you. That reminds me I have one to follow up on (feel free to send me news using my contact form).

Top reasons for a business to blog:

  • for marketing your products and/or services
  • reduce your PPC budget by building permanent links rather than paying for ads (I recommend doing both)
  • search engines favor fresh content and frequent updates
  • improves your public relations, by regularly communicating with your community
  • raises your company profile online
  • excellent for building your brand - even unknown companies can get high rankings fairly quickly

I’ve long been an advocate of blogging for businesses. I provide blog writing and design services with some of my partners. We basically handle it all for you from building the blog to writing posts.

Blogging has helped my own business grow as well as boosted my reputation. Right now I blog for two companies (including Podango’s Google podcast) and train and manage a staff of bloggers.

Our experience is that within a few months our clients start seeing higher rankings in search engines for key terms relating to their business. For small businesses blogs help you compete with much larger businesses.

For example, type in “internet marketing” and a company you’ve never heard of pops up first. Notice how they basically feed in blog posts on their home page. This is a very competitive term too - with over 111,000,000 results in Google.

Most businesses can benefit from a blog and it’s one of the first things I recommend. It doesn’t take a lot of technical expertise or cost. I’m also biased in that I love to write and the conversational tone of blog writing makes it simple to dash off a quick post.

Christmas Wishes

I told my Twitter friends Merry Christmas and wanted to blog it also. I started Twittering this Spring and I haven’t let up. Through it I feel connected to a lot of interesting people and especially important to me, I’m connected to a larger community of Internet or New Media folks. Many times I still bump up against people who I must justify my existence as an Internet Marketer to.

I both love and hate change and in the past months I have realized that my love affair with Internet marketing has settled into a more comfortable existence. The passionate mad race to learn has subsided to normal life, which to be honest, scared me a little.
I actually felt some burnout probably most of it starting about the time I got unexpectedly laid off from a job that I really liked (which was well chronicled on another blog). Though I knew it had nothing to do with my skills and everything to do with budgets and a small business, it was still rough. I was just getting to consider buying a house and settling down.

Things with my own business have been slower than I wish but still progress, thanks to teaming up with a programmer named Shaun. I’ve ridden the crazy ride of business ups and downs. When you’re on that roller coaster I think the best thing to do is put up both arms and say Wheeeeeee!!! I think instead I tightened my grip a bit. I’ve always been one to like having both feet on the ground while still enjoying adventures.

So here are my Christmas wishes:

- for Kelly at StartupPrincess. That she find a viable profit model for her excellent community
- for Jason at Jibberjobber. That he writes more books and goes on a book tour
- for me. That the site is up and working and we land advertising clients and that I figure out the direction I’m taking next - solitary confinement or corporate life
- for Paul Wilson. That the universe starts the boomerang effect and all that he gives starts coming back to him in the form of prosperity and rich [solid] foods
- for Phil801. That he is feeding all those kids and finding what he needs (as he has almost completely disappeared)
- for Laura M. peace on earth and in her tiny house and many sales of her new fitness journal
- for Troy. Renewed faith in friendship and humanity along with a fulfilling job
- for Andy B. The chance to break a big story with insider information
- for my bloggers. On-time paychecks

I’m sure there are more wishes to wish but Christmas presents need wrapping and preparations that need attention. Hope to you - peace, happiness, and prosperity!

Forget about Doing What you Love - Get a Job

“If you tell yourself that your job has to be something you’d do even if you didn’t get paid, you’ll be looking for a long time. Maybe forever.”

Today I read this post by Penelope Trunk and sighed out loud to myself — FINALLY. Finally someone has articulated what I have wondered about for years. One way that this has affected me is that I married someone who did what he loved. And it was miserable for me because what he loved didn’t pay the bills and meant I never saw my husband. I was basically single, which is what I literally became (and I hope Penelope doesn’t become, for several reasons. The cost of that action is very expensive in many different ways personally and to society. I don’t recommend it for most people!)

When I’ve coached people on their online business the biggest stopping point is choosing what to sell or market. Some literally get stuck there for months and don’t really learn anything (and waste a lot of our time and their money). There was some balance between finding something someone is good at or can do well at and not choosing something they would hate or would suck at.

Her point is that we shouldn’t do what we love for a career. We should choose a career for the type of lifestyle we want. Read that again.

There is time after work to do what we love and we’d do it anyway.

“We are each multifaceted, multilayered, complicated people…none us loves just one thing…Often, the thing we should do for our career is something we would only do if we were getting a reward. The reward for doing a job is contributing to something larger than you are, participating in society, and being valued in the form of money.”

Participating in society cannot be undervalued! I find that it’s the aspect of working that I need to find again. People who work by themselves don’t often maintain that feeling of contributing. At least I don’t know how to. We need to contribute and feel like we are. I feel contribution as language and it’s pretty quiet here as I type this.

It’s not that any job will do, it’s just not the end all, because relationships and love are.

“Relationships make your life great, not jobs. But a job can ruin your life - make you feel out of control in terms of your time or your ability to accomplish goals - but no job will make your life complete.”

I dated someone who told me his family members were the most happy of all their life when they had regular jobs. That’s why I don’t get why we are so anxious to quit our jobs. Speaking as an entrepreneur I do believe we can create regular jobs for ourselves with our own hours. However, not all of us are good at generating the social structure that comes with a job.

“If you are lost, and lonely, and wondering how you’ll ever find your way in this world. Take a job. Any job. Because structure, and regular contact with regular people, and a method of contributing to a larger group are all things that help us recalibrate ourselves…do something that caters to your strengths. Do anything. And if you are so overwhelmed that you feel depression coming on, consider that a job might save you. Take one. Doing work and being valued in the community is important. For better or worse, we value people with money. Earn some. Doing work you love is not so important. We value love in relationships. Make some.”

This post just made my week and is a great relief to read. I admit that I’ve been thinking of getting a regular job with regular (no evening) hours. It’s not that I can’t make enough to support myself as a contractor or marketer, I can. I just can’t build virtual relationships in the place of real work relationships, regardless of how much I try, and I have tried, and tried. I’m tired of being isolated and becoming reclusive - I want my normal social side back.

Consider how I got into this whole internet marketing game. I told all my friends I wanted a job where I could walk to work and not be a secretary or server. I didn’t think I could find a job as a conservation biologist or environmentalist so I got one at a startup answering the phones. Very unglamorous for a college educated woman. But it ended up being a springboard into everything else. Eventually I morphed web developing and PR into internet marketing. My friend says I’m like Las Vegas, always reinventing myself.

On the other hand there’s the part of me that rebels against getting a job and being dependent on someone else to pay me. That’s the entrepreneur in me. But could it be that we take jobs for deeper reasons than just a paycheck? (which is important too)

I got an email this week that I really loved. It was from a coworker who I never met. She found me on LinkedIn and wrote me. “I just remember people referring to “Janet” who worked offsite but who was amazing and incredible and everybody loved.” I found myself wondering - is she really talking about me?? This was more than 7 years ago! She remembered me all that time.

I remember standing up and taking punches at that company that I thought it would make me unpopular. But I think my coworkers knew that I stood up for all of us. And obviously they liked me for it. So that was endearing and again reminded me of a job and the fulfillment I got. Even my last job provided a lot of that - my coworkers absolutely rocked. I’m still friends with several of them even though I didn’t work there very long (the hours and unique stresses were killing my relationships).

So if anyone is still reading, I’d like to get your feedback about what you got from this. And, thank you Penelope for a killer post!

Love is the Killer Motivator - An Entrepreneur’s Story

I fell in love with this entrepreneurial fairy tale. It’s the perfect screenplay for a movie. It has romance, suspense, good food, and history. I love stories and writing them is my favorite. Plus I have my own great story about this restaurant - which isn’t the story I’m going to tell here. Also, this story doesn’t keep with the theme of my blog as well, which is ok because I think most of my readers have stopped reading. So this one is for me.

This love of stories makes me want my old job back at the flower shop. If I could support myself doing it, I would. Then I’d blog about the stories people tell about their lives when they come to buy flowers. That year in college made me wish I was a columnist. Now I wish I could make a movie.

The story starts in 1920 with a successful and educated man built a cabin for his wife for their anniversary. It was built in the trees of Salt Lake’s Mill Creek Canyon and aptly named “Log Haven.” It was a place to discuss business ideas and a place to spend the hot summers.

At one point the property was turned into a restaurant. Then in the 1980s it got into such disrepair that it was condemned. And that’s where the love story picks up again - with a woman named Margo Provost. She was a newlywed and very much in love. Her husband had seen the place and suggested she should revive it. So she did. Much like many successful businesses start out, she was taken by the project. She quit her high paying executive job and without any experience in the restaurant industry, went to work.

It was more difficult than she imagined. The general contractor got hepatitis and she didn’t get financing she hoped for (sound familiar?). She sold her houses, her cars, ran up her credit cards, and spent her retirement. And in 1994 she reopened the Log Haven restaurant. And because of that, the story continues. Both the restaurant and Provost have won awards and history and romances continue to be made.

I wish every entrepreneurial story had such a fairy tale behind it. I still cringe when I meet someone in the running up all the credit cards and eating only a meal a day stage. It’s a roller coaster ride for sure. But I believe that people make it and some even love the ride to getting there. I think for me, I’m almost more comfortable cheering and reporting on these stories than living it, though I don’t totally avoid it either.

Tell me about your business and what the attraction is for you…I want to hear your stories….

UPDATE: Just to add to the drama of the place, there was a murder at the restaurant in the 90s.

Blog Issues I Need to Solve

Here are some blog issues I need to fix (if you have recommendations for me):

Incoming Links Spam

I noticed in my sidebar there’s an SEO company who has spammed my list of incoming links. I tried to delete it, can’t find a way. I tried removing the plugin of incoming comments and it left an error code (broke the sidebar). I just left it. My blog needs some technical updates - like subscribing to comments, but this is more urgent.

No Javascript Support
I found a plugin that lets you insert javascript into blog posts but it doesn’t appear to be working. All of Google’s affiliate links are javascript (thank goodness CJ didn’t require javascript!). Wordpress doesn’t support javascript in posts. Anyone know of a solution that works? Google should have an HTML version of their text ads!

Fix my Email Subscription
This one seems most simple but I either haven’t spent the time or it’s more complicated than it looks. My email subscription pings subscribers every time my blog changes. It’s annoying. I just want it to email when there is a new post and add a plugin to notify people of new comments. Also, I want a few sentences of the post along with the link. I’ve tried changing the settings but ultimately nothing has changed and it’s a new year coming up and I want to get this solved.

Christmas Wish - a blog redesign with a logo
This has never been a priority and I don’t want to put resources into it now but it’s a wish. Kelly at Startup Princess wished someone would redesign her blog and someone did volunteer. So if you’re willing to help out I’ll promote your blog design company (and a PR6 link).

Our blog writing services cater to the very high end enterprise who can spend a few thousand monthly to offset their PPC spend and build permanent links in the search engine. I want to develop a mid-range option and am looking for a partnership so I can focus on the SEO and writing aspects. Preferably this is not just the design but some of the tech stuff. I’d like my brand to be reporting on what I see online or the internet marketing reporter. If you’re reading this you probably know my style.

For SEO purposes I’d like to try a static home page with an “about us” and top posts feed that you skip after the first visit. How would you handle this? Think it’s a good idea?

Here’s your chance to chime in with ideas and feedback on any topic relating to my blog. What makes you grouchy, what works. I know there’s a lot more I can do to improve my blog and if there’s anything you can add, please leave a comment.

Utah County Real Estate Investment Scheme

Paul Louis Bouchard who owns Hunters Capital, pleaded guilty to two 2nd degree felony charges for security fraud. He’s been accused of taking $11 million from about 140 investors in a two-year real estate investment scheme.The company promised investors monthly returns of between 3 percent and 4 percent. This happened between July 2005 and May 2007. Hunters Capital never purchased any real estate. It was all pipe dreams. And for that he could spend up to 30 years in prison.

I’m writing about this because I took a financial class this summer. The professor talked about why Utah has so many investment scams. People say that it’s because people are too trusting or other reasons. One reason the professor gave is that people often go off their gut or relationship with a person rather than asking others in the industry. They don’t want to take advice and think they know best. Arrogance and narrow-mindedness at best.

In our world the best thing you can do to protect yourself from fraud is to be educated and gather information from many sources. That’s how I ended up spotting a Craig’s List scam a few weeks ago. It was classic. I didn’t fall for it. However, once when visiting Europe I did fall for a classic scheme that cost a lot of time, some croissants, some chocolate, and a little bit of cash. Later I read a guidebook that perfectly described what had happened. Wish I had read that BEFORE getting the bag stolen.

First stop before investing: see if they are licensed with the securities division. Contact them at 801-530-6600 or see www.securities.utah.gov.

Advertising in Newspapers Through Google

Ideally, the best marketers utilize both on and offline marketing together. While I’ve never advertised in a newspaper (not even a classified ad) I was an advertising rep for my college newspaper. It was volunteer but I learned a lot from doing it. Plus one of my regular customers owned a Cajun restaurant and offered me free food (like hush puppies or fried alligator).

Back then I thought I was furthering the cause of our paper, but really I was learning about business and sales with no pressure on me. I wish I’d done even more volunteering like that.

I’ve been interested in Google’s newspaper advertising or as they call it Google Print ads (this goes to a video explaining how it works). Today I gave this a closer look. Note: you have to have a Google AdWords account to access this. First, I was surprised that they don’t just include traditional papers but have some weeklies, Spanish papers, college papers, and other niches. Over 600 in all. Note: if you live in Utah you can choose from the Salt Lake Tribune and/or Deseret News and that’s it.

The pricing is like Priceline bidding except there is more interaction. You get the newspaper’s list price and then you submit a bid. You don’t compete with other advertisers, publishers review your bid and get back to you in a day or two. They can accept, deny, or negotiate on the price. You can send an email to the publisher through the Google interface.

Here’s a quick example: you probably want to run your ad at least 3 times minimum. You select the newspaper(s) and set your budget. You can choose what section you’d like to advertise in. The list price for the paper I chose was around $1200 an ad for a daily (in a mid-size city). Your minimum bid is going to be around $300. Contrast that with a college newspaper that is around $800 with a $170 minimum bid. This is for 2 columns wide and about 11 inches tall (Google recommends at least 10 inches high or if you run smaller ads increase the frequency).

You’ll get an electronic tearsheet - or PDF file of your ad, after it runs.

There is an excellent “Tips for Beginners” section within your account that gives a lot of guidance, research, and advice. The nice thing is you don’t have to sign any agreements or contracts with the paper, like you normally would have to.

Newspapers have high trust and people tend to look at them longer and keep them around. I’d like to experiment advertising my SEO blog writing services that I offer.

If you want to try Google Print ads, you have to sign up for an AdWords account first.

Today is Under Construction

This site is full of bad English translations in China. I thought this sign was very tender:

Today is under construction. Thank you for understanding.

We should all reserve the right to post a sign like this up on certain days.

PayPal Horror Stories

After last week I have even more empathy for Seth Godin after Paypal seized his account. I recently had my biggest client bounce a rather large check. Being paid on time and paying other people on time is one of the biggest challenges I face. That’s why as an affiliate a lot of us like Commission Junction - they pay monthly and they collect so you don’t have to. Plus no invoicing. Not only did this check cause my account to go in the red, but it emptied my business savings instantly. Needless to say last week was stressful. But I’m not the only one who has things like this happen.

I thought of going to Paypal only because at least it almost guarantees the money is there. But after reading this I’m not sure that’s the best solution either.

Seth wrote about his bad experience trying to get his account back. I wish he put more detail about other’s dealings with Paypal (this is definitely a time when I wish he accepted comments). I wonder how Google Checkout compares or how it will evolve.

What solutions have you found to this problem? Have you had bad experiences with Paypal?

—— Burning through your cell phone minutes? I use Skype… ——

Free Email Marketing Workshop This Thursday

Since I’ve started blogging on Marketing Pilgrim I’m posting less on Newspapergirl. My blog has become a place for more commentary and local news for the time being. I will blog about what I learn if it’s helpful information.

I also appreciate hearing from businesses in the internet marketing space. I like to keep up on what’s going on and so this Thursday I’m going to this workshop by Constant Contact. It’s in Murray, Utah.

Constant Contact is a less sophisticated but very useable email marketing program. I liked Gold Lasso better because they are more secure and have more tracking features (I lost track of you!). But the user interface was much harder to use and has a bigger learning curve for beginners.

Email Marketing with Constant Contact
Thursday, December 6th Email Seminar
9:30am - 12:00pm
Cost: FREE

Email Marketing Gets Results
Workshop Location:
Webster University
5251 S. Green Street Suite 300
Murray, UT 84123

Description:
This workshop will walk you through the Constant Contact Email Marketing System while you learn email marketing best practices, winning strategies and tactics. You’ll learn how to build and manage your contacts, how to create great looking emails, and how to track and maximize results.

The workshop also covers basic email optimization concepts including building a bigger list, getting email opened, and ideas for email content. They won’t have wireless access.

To attend, register online at http://utah.constantcontact.com

(Space is limited to the first 30 registrations.)

UPDATE: The class is full. You can get on the waiting list. I asked them to do another workshop and will keep you posted on if they open up another class.

UPDATE: I got a reply to my email and they say classes often fill up very fast and to subscribe to their RSS feed if you want to attend (the calendar doesn’t work in Firefox so put it in IE and click to see the entire list of events to find the RSS feed. Not very user-friendly on this front.