5 Things NOT to do With Your Blog

By: Lynette Chandler

Are you fed up with your blog? Do you feel it's not giving you the
results you're hoping for? Don't feel bad. Chances are, some
missteps were made along the way that contributed to that. Here
are the most common ones.

Not Asking For Comments
Bloggers always agonize over the lack of comments. But the
problem is not that people don't read the blog or don't want to
comment but the blogger hasn't given the opportunity for readers
to comment. Just like asking for people to order a product, you've
got to coax people to spend their 3 or 4 precious minutes to
comment on your blog. Ask for opinions. People love giving it. Ask
for reader's experiences, input or help to accomplish something.
Ask people to suggest something to you e.g. You're getting
incorporated, ask people for suggestions, tips and
recommendations. Asking also tells people you're open to
suggestions and alternative views, further improving the image
people may have of you.

Not Hosting On Their Own Domain
Too many businesses jump on the blogging bandwagon without
thinking through how exactly it will fit into their overall marketing
strategy. Blogs are started on other people's sub-domains just to
test the waters. Before they know it, the blog has taken a life of
it's own and it's too late to get their own domain.

Start it off right. Domains aren't expensive. Even starting the blog
on an existing domain is better than someone else's sub-domain
because you can control it. Hosting your blog on a blog service's
sub-domain is also unprofessional. It's a lot like putting your
business site on a Geocities domain. Not pretty.

This way you control where you want to publish the blog to.
Tomorrow, if you outgrow these services, you can easily export
your blog to another tool, another host without losing too much
established traffic. A domain is also easier for people to remember
and easier for you to publicize.

Not Maximizing Their Blog Content
Many businesses quit blogging because they feel it's too much
work. True, like everything else, you gotta work on a blog but you
don't have to break your back over it. Sometimes you may have a
paragraph here and there about a topic that just isn't big enough
for an article. You know what? You're going to have many more of
these impromptu thoughts and ideas ¨C publish it to your blog.
Later, you can come back and gather these paragraphs, compile
them into a complete article or even a book.

That's only one way of maximizing your work. Have you written
articles in the past? How about e-courses, audio transcripts or
books that aren't in publication anymore? Recycle. Break them up
and post them on your blog. In fact, if you have lot's of this type of
content, you can even get your assistant to post them for you.

Publishing Too Often
Wow. Did I actually say that? Isn't that like the opposite of
everything you've ever learnt about blogging? Yes and no. You
see, the blogging world changes. What works yesterday may not
today. This is one of them. There are countless of blogs out there
and more being started by the day. Who has the time to read so
many posts? It's come to a point people cherry pick the blogs they
read and even that you're not safe yet. If they can't keep up with
you, they'll drop you no matter how good your information is. Try
to keep a balance. Feed information to your readers not dump a
truckload on them.

Falling For Short Term Methods
Ah, this is my favorite. If you can have a favorite pet peeve that is.
Every week, you hear about people dishing out the newest,
coolest blogging tactic, best blogging tool that's sure to sky rocket
your business to success or bull doze your way to the top search
engine listings. Consider how any offer will help you advance your
business two, five or tens years from now. Is it really in line with
your marketing direction? If it isn't drop it. It also helps a lot if you
can have a reliable source whom you can consult and help put
things into perspective for you. One of the most powerful qualities
of a blog has nothing to do with search engines, tagging or
pinging. These things do have a place, but they aren't as powerful
as the relationship opportunities between you and your
customers.

Although these mistakes are common, they are also very easily
rectified and don't cost much money. All of these suggestions are
born out of my own trial and error and they've worked out nicely.
Try it yourself.

Article by:

Affectionately nicknamed Tech Diva by her peers, Lynette Chandler regularly dispenses blogging and RSS help to countless business owners. Visit www.BloggingStarterPack.com to learn more about blogging and get a copy of her video free.