Blogging 101: build your audience, build your business

1. Blogging 101: build your audience, build your business An entrepreneurs Guide to Sharing Thoughts, Building an Audience and Creating Income  Mrs. Shawn R. McLeod

2. The death of a blog The Uninformed Blogger Dead Blog Dead Blog Dead Blog -Does not know intended audience -Does not know audience needs -Passionate at 1st, then fizzles out -Can’t effectively connect to audience

3. Agenda (Part 1: Blogging as a BIZ) • My Background • Kids Worthy of Emulation • Your Great Biz Ideas: Can Blogging Help? • Know the Why: Is Blogging Really for You? • Pleasure or Business? • Pathways to Building An Audience

4. Agenda (Part 2: building an audience) • Choosing a Niche • Building An Audience • Solving Their Problems • Money-Making Techniques • Getting in the Way of Traffic: Keyword Research & Analysis • Quiz & Prizes!!! • Q&A

5. Kid entrepreneurs: worthy of emulation Chauncey Holloman: Ages 9-11: sold candy door-to-door Age 15: youngest winner of Business Plan Competition Age 19: Arkansas SBA Young Entrepeneur of the Year Now Designer and CEO of OfficialHarlemLyrics.com Farrah Gray: Age 6: Sold lotion door-2-door Age 13: Started Farr-Out Foods Age 14: $1.5 MM sales revenue Leanna Archer: Ages 9: started natural hair care biz Age 12: 6-figure sales revenue / 8 employees LeannasHair.com

6. Now it’s your turn Your greatbiz ideas! Can Blogging Help??

7. Part I: Blogging Basics

8. Is Blogging Really for You? Pluses: Immediate Communication Broad Audience Reach Local, National, Global Exposure Available Tools / Resources Technology Well Developed Exposure as a Writer Lead to Other Writing Jobs Considerations: Time Commitment Must Enjoy Writing Topic Passion w/ Education Investment Keep Up with Technology Audience Building Time Day Job/School Impacts

9. Pleasure or Business? Pleasure • Sharing your thoughts with friends,family, like-minded • Keeping in touch • Personal Reflections  • Social Interactions Business • Income generation (part-time/full-time) • Connection to existing brick & mortar business(es) • Building Clientele for new businesses • Promoting Products/Services

10. PATHWAYS TO BUILDING AUDIENCE Build Audience CONSISTENCY Give 1st:Law of Reciprocity Target & Understand Your Audience Research: Solve a Problem; Entertain Then & only then Know the Why: Sustainability Monetize: Products / Services

11. Part II Getting Down to BIz-ness

12. Choosing a Niche? • The Big 7: personal finance, self-improvement, parenting, social media, business, news, and gadgets • Personal Interests • Other's High Demand Interests • Hobbies • Technical Expertise • Professions THINK: -Benefit Proposition -Problem Solution

13. GET TO KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE • Find Out Their Hang Outs • Hang Around Them • Visit Subject Matter Forums/FBs/Twitter • Interact & Participate • Start Conversations • Find Other Bloggers in Your Niche • Get Their Advice • Read Their Comments

14. Solve their problems • What Keeps Your Readers up at Night? • Blog Post Titles: • How Safe Is Your [Blank] from [Threat] • 7 Warning Signs That [Blank] • The Shocking Truth About [Blank] • The Great [Blank] Hoax • 13 Things Your [Trusted Source] Won’t Tell You About [Blank] • 5 Little Known Facts That Could Effect Your [Blank] Jon Morrow: 52 Headline Hacks

15. Law of reciprocity • 1) to give and take mutually • 2) to return in kind or degree <reciprocate a compliment gracefully> You ALWAYS Give 1st You ALWAYS Give More

16. Money-Making Techniques Guest Blogging Google AdSense Affiliate Marketing Referrals Public Speaking Consulting Writing for Other Blogs, Trade Journals Info Products – eBooks, POD Books, Traditional Publishing, Courses

17. Getting in the Way of Traffic: Traffic from: Being Promoted Pay-per-Click Search Marketing Campaign Banner Ad to Target Audience Email Link from eNewsletter promoting product or service Blog post or side bar prompting opt-in action http://www.copyblogger.com/landing-pages/

18. PATHWAYS TO BUILDING AUDIENCE On The Quiz! Build Audience CONSISTENCY Give 1st:Law of Reciprocity Target & Understand Your Audience Research: Solve a Problem; Entertain Then & only then Know the Why: Sustainability Monetize: Products / Services

19. Free copy of presentation at… http://10TalentWealth.com 10TalentWealth@gmail.com

20. Quiz Time • What is the 1st Building Block For Blogging Success? • Name 3 Ways You Can Get To Know Your Audience? • Define the “Law of Reciprocity”. • How do you determine what your audience needs? • Name 3 Famous Kid Entrepreneurs. • Name 2 ways you can sustain your blogging efforts? • What is the name of Mrs. McLeod’s Blog? • What is her email address?

21. You: the informed blogger • Passionate About Your Blog Topic • Seek Mentors for Help • Know Your Audience • Connect With Your Audience • Solve Their Problems • Get Professional Help When Needed • Educate Yourself About Your Craft • Use the Law of Reciprocity • Give into the Blogosphere

22. Q&A

23. Important blogging links and references Bonus materials

24. Useful blogging Links • http://Copyblogger.com • http://Problogger.net • http://ZenHabits.com • http://IttyBiz.com • http://Chrisg.com • http://WeBlogBetter.com • http://GetRichSlowly.com • http://www.problogger.net/31dbbb-workbook/ • http://BrazenCareerist.com/ • http://boostblogtraffic.com/blog-topic/ • http://boostblogtraffic.com/more-comments/ • http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/smallbusiness/1105/gallery.kid_entrepreneurs/index.html

25. Books you must have in your library Public Speaking Blogging Help Inspiration

26. Domain Name Choice Exercise Easy to Spell Easy to Remember Catchy Phrase 15 Letters Max

27. Build Presence: Social Media / RSS Facebook Twitter RSS Squidoo Technorati HubPages

28. Successful Blog Writing Consistent Well-Written Frequent Proper Use of White Space Links to Multiple Pages in Your Site Allow Exclusive Use of Some of Your Content

29. Partnerships Residual Relationships Joint Ventures Blog Networks Venture Capitalists Other Bloggers with Similar Niches/Interests