Hi,

Just wanted to update you on progress.

As you know a short while ago I started actively using my blog and posting onto it, submitting to directories and syndicating using RSS.

Well blow me sideways it certainly works.

I followed all the advice you gave me and also what was in blogging for dollars and for every single keyword I have targeted I am on he first page in both google and yahoo (for some reason though not MSN!) and in quite a few instance number 1.

Obviously they are not a link directly to the sales page but to the blog or a relevant news rss site but it's certainly very good exposure and I have already started seeing traffic start to rise.

At first I thought it was the articles as it has only been a week or so but I checked on the article sites I have submitted to and the majority of them are still waiting at pending.

Any way as said just thought I would update you and let all the IEC members know that it DOES work.

Anyway off to post on my blog!

Cheers

Peter

Hi:

Re: When you say blog description do you mean the meta tag description?

Yes that would be helpful, but what I am referring to specifically is the a one paragraph description directly under the title.

Re: Re the opt in offer I have been looking for a way to do this. I can easily stick the code into the sidebar and use formmail, however it wants a 'thanks' page and I'm a bit stuck as to how to do that!!!!

You can create a simple thank you page that redirects them back to the blog, or alternatively just send them directly back to the blog.

Re: I haven't started submitting to directories as of yet, I also have not found the site rss feed component of wordpress so that I can submit this. Is there enough content on the blog to start promoting it?

Yes, I usually wait for 3 or more posts and about a week of time, this usually satisfies the requirements of most directories.

What you might want to do is to set a little task of submitting to a new directory after every post.

Re: When you say start a campaign to get comments can I ask how I would do that?

This is a great question!

Friends, Bloggers, Commenters, lend me your creditability

Comments build your credibility and your profile with readers and search tools.

Not all strategies are appropriate for all blogs:

Comments depend a lot on networking. Let people know you are blogging and ask them to leave simple comments on your blog to let you know they were able to find it, e.g.: friends, family, customers, prospects or business partners.

Comment on the other peoples’ blogs or post about them. Maybe highlight other blog posts that are related or complementary to your specific subject (preferably noncommercial).

If you blog about someone or reference their blog in any way, leave a comment on the post that inspired you.

If the blog you are referencing does not allow comments, send them a quick email note.

Be specific in your comments. Let them know you actually read their content, not just spamming them.

Better yet, update what they have said with new developments, offer Constructive criticism or ask what they think about an alternative point of view that you outline.

Target active blogs (lots of regular posting) that have a history of responding to comments and blogging other blogs.

If the blog you are targeting is hugely popular your comment may not get attention because of the shear volume of feedback the blog gets – find smaller, more focused or growing blogs to improve your chances.

Don’t be afraid to be challenging, opinionated or argumentative – this does not mean name calling. Good debate is good for everyone.

Leave your blog and/or specific post URL when you leave comments on the blogs of others.

Always include your name, blog name and blog URL in your signature block.

Run a contest for comments, e.g.: http://drunkenmonkeyknits.blogspot.com/200...entre-what.html

Create useful/quality content that other people will write about and point to.

Submit to specific blog directories - if no one can find you, no one can comment.

Encourage feedback – ask, beg, plead readers to comment or ask questions. Then be prompt with feedback.

Create new posts based on comments you have received.

Comment back to someone else’s comment in your blog or someone else’s, eerrr... . . – it’s all about conversation and interaction. If they ask a question, do your best to answer it, or maybe ask for more information…

The more you blog in a focused way the more readers you get – the law of averages still applies.

Publicly thank people (like in your comment section or a in a new post) for taking the time and effort to comment or post about your blog.

Hold something back, entice your audience to ask for more.

Get the ball rolling by asking questions or commenting on your own blog posts.

Experiment with pictures and graphics.

Start or participate in a meme, here is an example about goals with a clear invitation, benefits and guidelines set out:

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/06...riting-project/

Test, test, test - different ‘comment getting’ strategies and keep track of the feedback.

Cheers,

Andrew

Hi Andrew, thanks for having a look.

I shall change the articles name as you suggested.

I believe that there is a plugin for wordpress to allow meta tags - I will have a search for it.

When you say blog description do you mean the meta tag description?

Re the opt in offer I have been looking for a way to do this. I can easily stick the code into the sidebar and use formmail, however it wants a 'thanks' page and I'm a bit stuck as to how to do that!!!!

I haven't started submitting to directories as of yet, I also have not found the site rss feed component of wordpress so that I can submit this. Is there enough content on the blog to start promoting it?

When you say start a campaign to get comments can I ask how I would do that?

Thanks for taking the time to have a look and provide valuable feedback.

Waiting for blogging for dollars to arrive so hopefully will give me some insight as to how to make it better. I don't want to make any money or promote product on the blog. I hope to use it as a tool to generate trust and respect and increase both the rankings in the search engines as well as visitors to the main sales pages.

Fingers crossed it will work

Thanks again

Peter

Hi:

In your 'Categories' section in the side bar, be more specific, e.g.: 'aquarium articles' not 'articles' use benefits and keyphrases.

Can you edit your template to include meta tags?

Include <alt> tags with your images.

Create a blog description that is keyphrase rich and focuses on what the chief benefits of reading your blog are.

Include an optin offer on your blog.

Have you started to submit your blog to blog directories yet?

Start a campaign to get comments on your posts.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers,

Andrew

Peter,

You seem to have a clean setup with Wordpress. Well done!

Now to the blog: I understand that a blog should be a personal write-up rather than a technical or sales piece. A blog allows the reader to enter the mind of you, Peter, the reef expert. Unfortunately, right now your entries feel like pages form a website.

By writing from a perspective of YOU, ie YOUR experience, you get closer to the reader. Perhaps you can write about a recent question you got, or a recent soemthing you found or learned, or a recent experience you had with a product, a fish, or maintenance. if the blog gains momentum when it reflects Peter's actions and experiences, victories and frustrations. Wite an entry when the news is current. A prdocut announcement does not count. And a technical note does not count either. But if you write something in response to a news event (eg a tsunami). or something that happened to you just yesterday, then you have a bloggable story.

You're at a bar after a busy day at the Salt Water Convention (let's pretend...), and chatting away. What could you talk about that would get a discussion going among the people around you?

But I'm not a blog specialist, this is just what I have learned along the way so far.

Good luck!

Aryan.

Hi, just wondering if you could take a quick look at my blog nd let me have your thoughts as to what I am doing well, what I am doing badly and what I am not doing at all.

http://blog.salt-water-aquarium.com

Would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Peter

Ok, I see now.

I presume that for a blog I need to perform keyword research in wordtracker, locate a suiteable keyword or keywords, create an entry in relation to that, wait for it to be indexed and then submit it to the directories.

This will allow for traffic to slowly come to the blog site. When visitors arrive at the blog, read the article how do I try to convince them to click through to the main site.

Is it good practice to only put the articles onto the blog or would you recommend putting them onto the main site as well? My blog is a subdomain therefore it is treated as a separate website to the main one.

Thanks

Peter

Hi:

That's the idea, as long as it has been 'found' on your site first, whether it is a blog, newsletter or article section - then you can do your article marketing.

Cheers,

Andrew

Thanks for the reply.

Can I just confirm that I should post to the blog first and then when this has been indexed submit the same entry to the article sites?

Thanks

Peter

Hi:

Keep blogging

Make sure your blog is being 'pinged'

Submit you blog to blog directories

write articles that have your best keyphrases as titles:
wait until they have been indexed by google
submit them to article sites

Spread your signature block around:
Look for blogs that are in your niche. Comment on them
Look for forums that are in your niche. Ask and answer questions
Let them know about your free guides and services, like your free classifieds

Look for joint venture partners to leverage their reach and cross sell each others products.

Submit ads to free ad websites and advertise your free classifieds!

By the way, your website looks great! I am impressed. Continue to flesh out the content.

Cheers,

Andrew

Sorry should have put the URL in really shouldn't I

Its http://www.salt-water-aquarium.com

At the moment the blog has just started and I am putting some articles etc onto it, however I am also going to go into more depth discussions where appropriate.

Thanks

Peter

Two thoughts for you.

What is the URL for your new site?

If your a big blogger, see if you can find some other bloggers with a good level of traffic and see if you get them to do a story on you, maybe ghost write it for them, or maybe even offer them rights to offer your viral ebook.

Hi, I know that it takes time to generate traffic to your site but was hoping for a few pointers if possible.

I am hesitant to do PPC as this has cost me a lot of money in the past, all by mistakes of my own but a lot of money none the less.

I am hoping to get traffic via natural and viral methods.

My site is now completely live, all books are wriiten, autoresponder all set up, payment processes in place - now comes the hard part - getting traffic, not just any traffic but targeted traffic.

I have optimised the site as per the instructions at search marketing lab, started submitting articles, updating my blog, done a press release, created a couple of viral books which are doing the rounds and slowly started submitting to directories. I have also changed my signature in some forums I am active in.

Now I know that I need to be patient and whilst I was creating the site, writing the books etc it was all go, however now that has been done everything seems to have slowed down i.e. there isn;y always something which springs to mind as to what I need to do next.

I don't like sitting around doing nothing (or not as much as I have been for the past 3-4 months!!), however when I do something I want it to be worthwhile and drive my business forward.

Do you have any pointers as to where I can go next to start generating traffic to my site so that I can start growing my business.

THanks for any help

Peter