#93: 13 Successful Blogging Tips, Business Podcasting, and the Bing Pre-Iphone

I think this is the longest episode I’ve released yet!

Lots of updates and changes to the site, and plenty stuffed into this episode.

First off, my start into the video realm came on May 19 with the launch of the TaylorMarek20 Vlog. Find the latest vlog/video of my making over at: http://www.youtube.com/taylormarek

This episode is a new twist, in that I have New Media instead of Finances for this episode. Take a listen and tell me what you think.

New Media: 13 Successful Blogging Tips.

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/06/10/successful-blogging/ – Darren Rowse and his 5000th blog post! Well worth a read.

Business: Business Podcasting

Have you looked at integrating a podcast into your business? If not, you’re missing out.

Technology: Bing Pre-Iphone

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10261061-2.html – Google’s Schmidt dings Bing

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10261260-1.html – Five of my favorite things about the Palm Pre

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-10260521-233.html – iPhone OS 3.0 revisited

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10260010-1.html – Details about Apple’s new iPhone 3G S

Lets continue the conversation, comment below or use these options:

• Toll Free Comment Line: 1-866-TMP-2860
• @taylormarek me on Twitter
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Taylor-Marek/784580234

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:37 — 50.9MB)

Who are my Mentors?

This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while. Everyone has a hero they look up to, someone they admire. The realm I most associate myself with is the new media crowd (blogging, podcasting, internet video). Let me introduce you to my mentors:

Internet Business:

Jason Van Orden -Podcaster first and foremost, entrepreneur at heart. He was responsible for most of the promoting ideas I’ve implemented on this blog/podcast.

Podcasting:

Paul Colligan – Best mentor anyone could ask for. He knows this area well, and is an awesome friend to have. To me, his name is synonymous with podcasting.

Blogging:

Yaro Starak – One of the first blogs I ever followed when I first came into this realm in early 2006. Everything he writes is so simple, anyone can understand it.

Darren Rowse – When I first ran across ProBlogger, I thought of the name. I said, “I want to be a Pro-Blogger” and I’ve modeled much of what I do on the internet around that statement.

Social Media:

Leesa Barnes – Started out podcasting, made a book, then merged into the realm of social media. Best interviewer I’ve had, and LOVES speaking on New Media.

Those are my mentors, what about you?

Re: 21 Ways to Make Your Blog Sticky

I was doing my usual surfing of the internet and ran across an article that Darren Rowse wrote about on his blog, problogger.net. I enjoyed it so much that I thought I would add on to it as well as add a couple of my own thoughts.

3. Good Blog Design – I cannot emphathise this enough. The way your blog is designed will either make or break your blog. There are many themes and designs out there, so you need to be selective and choose the one that fits your style and niche, but is also appealing to the audience as well. Colors play a big factor in this. I’ve mentioned this as well all the way back in Episode #39, and the topic of color branding in Episode #41.

4. On Site Branding – This is key to distinguishing yourself from the crowd. If you cannot effectively brand your blog in your blog (roundabout way of saying this), you will become part of the crowd and not the leader. Think of a big crowd with everyone wearing grey. Looks bland doesn’t it? Now imagine one person in that crowd wearing a bright yellow shirt. Who will your eyes be drawn to?

5. Make Your Blog Personal – Having that personal touch is what makes your blog your own. Your style of writing, personality, and connection with the audience can drive your site in a powerful way. The audience have someone they can relate to and trust, all of which drives people to your site and create a 2-way conversation.

Now for my contribution:

22. Traffic tends to Gravitate towards Mature Posts

Notice I didn’t say old posts. These are posts that have been around for a while and still stand the test of time and keep drawing an audience to it. Its one of the foundational posts of your blog. I have noticed on my site that many visit the archives and not the most recent post. It puzzled me for sometime until I found out that I hit something that created an interest beyond what I thought. It happens alot in the blogosphere, but that just one of the perks of new media .

If you have something you would like to contribute or have questions about, feel free to comment. If you want to read all 21 tips, then I suggest you head out to the post: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008/07/18/21-ways-to-make-your-blog-or-website-sticky/

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