24-7 AMs | An Internet marketing resource for you!

As experts in optimization we all know different ways to optimize our clients' blogs. We use content that is keyword rich. We bold certain words to add emphasis. We create hyperlinks throughout the content for the spiders to easily move around from page to page.

Recently a family member asked me how to increase traffic to his personal blog. How can someone increase blog readership if the blog doesn't have a central theme. He posts a variety of different things like photos, poetry, artwork and short stories. I spoke to some of our SEO blog experts here are Page 1 Solutions and also Googled different effective ways. There are a lot of different opinions out there. I pulled together some of the most common answers from other bloggers and SEO resources.

The following is a short list of ways to increase traffic, aside from optimizing content:

1. Add your blog to as many different blog directories as you can
2. Read other blogs and create a track back to you.
3. Comment on other blogs. Especially blogs that are highly trafficked.
4. Add links from social networking sites into your blog.
5. Update social networking statuses for friends to check out new blog posts.
6. Create a feed from new blog posts on sites like Twitter
7. Add your blog to RSS feed directories
8. Join sites like Digg, de.li.cious, technorati
9. Ping your new blog posts
10. Write about things that people want to read- become an expert in something.
11. Contribute to online forums.
12. Write and post blogs as often as possible.

There are several other things you can do to increase traffic to your personal blog page. But the above list will get you a good start and you should see an increase in user traffic. For more information on optimization and how you can use increase traffic to your site, contact Page 1 Solutions today

Labels: Blog, Search Engine Optimization, website marketing

Recently my client, Westport cosmetic dentist Dr. Worthington had us program a cosmetic dentistry blog onto his website. I knew this would be a great help to his website by adding fresh up to date content and creating internal links on the pages of his site. I told him he had to fully commit to blogging at least once a week. He promised me he would and the very next morning I had a phone call asking me to check out the new dental implants blog he posted. Now, Dr. Worthington is blogging at least twice a week for the blog on his website- when he had never blogged before in his life.

Additionally, he set up his very own 'Exciting World of Dentistry' cosmetic dentistry blog. On this blog he picked from one of the generic templates that blogger offers and now writes at least one blog a week on this Exciting World of Dentistry blog as well. On these blogs, he also links back to his main site, to again create more links and information out on the web about his practice.

It is so refreshing to see a client take what I have taught them and expand that into something so much greater. I am very excited for Dr. Worthington to see the benefits of all his hardwork and effort.

Labels: Blog, cosmetic dentists

In this blog post we’ll discuss the ins and outs of … blog posts! Many of our clients have blogs on their website and post regularly. They include topics such as recent and upcoming events, news from their particular industry, special promotions and updates from the office, or just the general musings of the poster. We’ve found fresh content from regular posters adds a significant benefit to their optimization efforts. But how can they get even more out of them? Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your blog page.

• Post Regularly! – More is better! Post as often as you can, because the more content you add to your blog the more the search engines see your blog (and thus your website) as relevant, updated and important. If you’re diligent, you’ll see an improvement in your search engine results almost immediately. Also keep in mind you can have as many contributors to your blog as you want. Therefore, if you sign up several skilled wordsmiths in the office, they can share the task of posting regularly.

• Include Keywords in the Title – The specific URL of your blog post is the first five to eight words in the title (depending on length) so make sure those words count! Refer directly to whatever you’re discussing in the body of your post. If you’re not sure if the words you’ve chosen are frequently searched, use this tool. Try not to cram so many keywords into the title that it’s unintelligible, just use a few of the most important ones.

• Link Back to Other Pages on Your Site – You want users to visit more than just your blog, right? So send them to the rest of your website! Don’t just link back to your home page though. Provide text links to the specific pages that address what you’re discussing. If you’re not sure how to do this or need help, ask your AM.

• Use Social Networking to Your Advantage – Search for other blogs out there like yours – trust me there are tons! Reading other blogs in your industry will give you ideas on what to post on your own blog. But there’s more. You can comment on other people’s blog posts and include a link to yours. One caveat – never spam someone else’s blog! Add a comment that is relevant such as more information related to the topic, not just a link. By doing this, you may even establish relationships with other bloggers to share ideas and strategies.

• Advertise Your Blog! – Include a link to your blog in your email signature. If you have a list of clients or patients, make sure to let them know. Tell friends and family about it and ask them to pass it along. Make sure that you have something interesting for them to read though (see “Post Regularly” above). There are so many simple ways to let the world know about your blog. The only limit is your imagination.

• Make it Fun – This is perhaps the most important advice I can give. If posting to your blog becomes a chore, it will show and viewers will lose interest. It may sound contrary to all the tips I’ve just given…but posting to your blog does not have to be complicated or time consuming. Just enjoy it. If you do, you’ll be inclined to post more often.

So get out there and turn your blog into the powerful web marketing tool that it is! And stay tuned to 24-7 AMs for more valuable tactics.

Labels: Blog

What I think my associate, Noel, is trying to say is:

Here are some things to consider to get you into a "blogging" mentality.

Write about what you know about:
You deal with patients or clients on a daily basis. Whenever any issue or circumstance presents itself, make a note of it. After a week, try to have around 5 or 6 notes on potential topics. At the end of the week, write a paragraph or two on that topic. You will often find yourself writing more than just two paragraphs.

By just starting to write, your creative juices will start flowing and you'll be able to kick out an article in no time.

Labels: Blog

I often lecture my clients when they do not update their blogs. "Write about whatever," I tell them. "This is meant to be fun, not a burden." For the first time in a long time, I feel sympathy for them. I was committed to updating the Account Management blog today. I logged into my account and just stared at the screen.

Uhhhhhh...

That feeling of just writing inane dribble for inane dribbles sake is overwhelming. I mustn't write crap! That would just be pointless.

There are all these cheesy lists of ways to get over writers block on the internet, and being the sucker I am, I checked them out.

1. Let it sit for a day or two- then come back to it at a later time. (Well- that isn't going to happen.)

2. Get a friend to help you. (I really don't think any of my three friends would be interested, so scratch that one.)

3. Admit you have writers block. Admitting you have a problem is the first step towards recovery. (This sounds vaguely familiar...)

4. Writer's block is created from a sense of fear that your writing will be viewed as poor, therefore, you do not even try. Put that fear aside and write your feelings. (I feel like I am in therapy.)

5. Relax your mind. (Do what?)

Needless to say, I did not find anything specific that inspired me to write a cunningly clever blog entry. What worked for me, was I put on some music I enjoyed. However, what works for me may not work for others.

The first step, in my mind, is to figure out what is inspiring. Sometimes you just have to wait for inspiration. Other times, you must force it out, just like you would the last dab of toothpaste from the already over-squeezed, marred shell of what was once your creative reservoir.

Now thats a blog post! Take that Mr. Lack of Motivation!

Labels: Blog