Amanda Clark says, “Last week, the Grammar Chic, Inc. team offered a few tips for businesses just getting into the blogging routine. Today, we’re going to hone in on an important concept for new and seasoned business bloggers alike—the concept of readability. Obviously, you want your blog to offer value, you want it to be interesting to read, and you want it to cast your business in the best light possible. All of that is predicated on your blog being approachable, accessible even to lay people. After all, if reading your blog is nightmarishly difficult, headache-inducing, or just flat-out... [...]

Pamella Neely says, “As effective as email marketing is, you need a list to make it work. Building a good list takes time, and buying a list is never a good idea. The good news is that building your email list can be sped up significantly. It doesn’t have to take two years, or even one year, to have a reasonably-sized list. If your website is getting anything less than a 2 percent opt-in rate — i.e., at least 2 percent of your website visitors are signing up for your list — then it’s time to add more prompts to get more people to respond. In addition to setting up a few of the free... [...]

Chow says, “Affiliate marketing is celebrating its 20th year anniversary this month and to honor the industry, the good folks at GeoRiotare honoring those that have shaped and continue to shape the industry in some big ways. It seems I’m kinda of a big deal. I’m #3 on the list. The industry has come a long way since the wild west days of the Internet 20 years ago. We like to think that these 25 game changers have a lot to do with that”. Top 25 Affiliate Marketing Minds of 2014 John Chow’s Blog  [...]

Pamella Neely says, “Content marketing can be overwhelming. There are so many tactics to try, and so much work to do. But despite all the complexity and work, there is one content marketing tactic that beats everything else: blogging. In fact, if you could only do one piece of the content marketing puzzle, it should be a blog. That’s my opinion, but it’s also the opinion of 37 percent of marketers, according to a survey by U.K. content marketing agency Content Plus. Here’s why so many marketers consider blogging the number one tactic for content marketing. Marketers who prioritize... [...]

Demian Farnworth says, “The average blogger only has two concerns. The first is obscurity. She is a total stranger in a vast world loaded with people — unknown, inconspicuous, and insignificant. Odd, considering there are so many people online. But it’s a simple law: We all start at the bottom. One recent study discovered that the average British blogger had only 285 subscribers, received 18 comments a day, and earned about $120 a month. That’s the reward for someone who’d been blogging for two years and eight months. Yes, those surveyed also worked full-time jobs”. What... [...]

Lynette Young says, “Traffic makes the web go ’round. There is a lot of talk about converting your website blog traffic into email list signups, but the catch is you need to have a good amount of traffic (people visiting your website) in the first place to drive email list signups! While there are many ways to entice people to visit your website such as your email list, search optimization, paid advertisements, social media and even in-person signage, one of the best ways is to get your message in front of other people’s audiences. How do you accomplish this? By writing and publishing articles... [...]

Ginny Soskey says, “When I first started to blog for a living, I found it hard. Like, really hard. I always felt like I had writer’s block. It took me forever to write my first article that was over 1,000 words. And I certainly didn’t feel validated after I hit publish — the posts would rack up a handful of shares and views, usually from my wonderfuland supportive friends and family. (Thanks, guys.) A few years later, blogging full-time isn’t as daunting. While it’s not always a walk in the park, I’ve developed some processes and discovered some shortcuts... [...]

William Comcowich says, “By now, most marketers can identify the major influencers in their industry. Big names include Lee Odden, Guy Kawasaki, Brian Solis, Chris Brogan, Seth Godin, Neil Patel, Heidi Cohen, etc. These marketing influencers have earned their enviable reputations by freely sharing their original and valuable insights. As a result, each boasts tens of thousands of followers. Many of their followers contact them to retweet their article or write about their brand. Competition is fierce to get noticed by the major marketing influencers. Fortunately, there are plenty of other great... [...]

Isla McKetta says, “You’ve heard the wisdom: “Your business should have a blog.” “Blogging helps your SEO.” “Why aren’t you blogging yet?” According to the experts, a blog will solve all your Internet woes. Blogging will increase your traffic, expand your audience, improve your engagement, position you as an authority, and allow you to shape the message in your space. In fact, blogging is so hyped as a panacea, you’d think that simply adding a blog to your site would also help you find the perfect spouse, cure the common cold, and even... [...]

Chow says, “It goes without saying that the Internet is supported by advertising. The reason why you are able to upload and stream all of those videos on YouTube is because Google populates the site with various forms of advertising. The reason why you are able to socialize with your friends on Facebook is because that social network has advertising too. And yes, part of the reason why you can continue to read posts like these on John Chow dot Com is because John makes money from this site, both directly and indirectly, too”. Misconceptions About Sponsored Posts John Chow’s Blog  [...]